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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

"By *r$\y 

Chap. Copyright No. 

Shelf__AC_. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 



A BOOK INTENDED FOR THE GUIDANCE OF YOUNG PREACHERS 

OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. SOUTH, IN 

THE DISCHARGE OF ALL PASTORAL DUTIES. 



/ 



BY JOHN R. ALLEN, A.B., D.D., 
Professor in Southwestern University, Texas, 




Nashville, Tenn. : 

Publishing House Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 

Barbee & Smith, Agents. 

1897. 



i 



W^TS^t £ 






2024: 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1897, 

By John B. Allen,- 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 




PREFACE. 

Some years ago the author wrote a little book enti- 
tled "Book of Forms," intended to help our young 
preachers in all cases of discipline, especially trials in 
our Church courts. This book received very favorable 
notice from our bishops and leading preachers through- 
out the Church. The following are a few of the opin- 
ions expressed: 

I regard it as an important and necessary work. 

Rev. M. H. Neely, D.D., 

Denver Conference. 

You have done a very good thing in getting up this " Book 
of Forms." Rev. C. Y. Rankin, D.D., 

Pacific Conference. 

I have carefully examined your form book, and like it very 
much. It will certainly be very useful, especially to young 
preachers. It is a happy conception. 

Rev. H. S. Hosmee, D.D., 
North Alabama Conference. 

I heartily approve this book. It is needed, and will do good. 

Rev. R. G. Pouter (Gilderoy), 

North Mississippi Conference. 

I am of the opinion that it will be a success. Such a book is 
badly needed. Rev. R. M. Powees, 

North Texas Conference. 

I have examined your "Book of Forms" as well as I have 
been able, and find nothing at variance with the law of the 
Church. It may be of service to many. 

Bishop A. W. Wilson. 
I see nothing in it to criticise adversely. It will be helpful, I 
think, to our peachers in charge. Bishop J. C. Geanbeey. 
You are doing a good work, and are doing it well. 

Bishop R. K. Haegeove. 
(in) 



iv THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

Dear Brother Allen: Your little "Book of Forms " is a good 
thing. The preachers in charge will thank you for it. It 
greatly facilitates the most difficult part of a pastor's duty — the 
bringing of offenders either to reformation or to trial. 

Bishop J. C. Keener. 

It has been used by many of our preachers in all 
parts of the connection, and has given satisfaction. The 
book, however, was published from a defective manu- 
script, and had errors in it which none saw or felt so 
keenly as the author. The edition has been exhausted, 
and, as there is still a slow but steady demand for it, 
and as it appears to the author that directions are 
equally needed in every department of pastoral work as 
well as in the execution of discipline, he has resolved 
not to bring out a new edition of that book, but to re- 
place it by this work, The Itinerant's Guide, which 
will be a new edition of the "Book of Forms " so far as 
it relates to its special field, and will also cover the du- 
ties of the ministry, the call to the ministry, the prepa- 
ration for the ministry, the development and delivery 
of sermons, pastoral visiting, and the proper manage- 
ment of a charge in the Methodist Church in all respects. 

The greater part that appears here has been delivered 
as lectures to the class in theology at the Southwestern 
University. It will, of course, have the defects incident 
to such work, and I trust also the merit of direct appli- 
cation to parties in whom the lecturer is interested. 
Hoping that it will prove a benefit, especially to the 
immature boys and inexperienced young men who enter 
our ministry, and that the outcome of it may be good 
for our beloved Methodism, the author sends it forth on 
its mission. John E. Allen. 

Southwestern University, Georgetown, Tex. 



CONTENTS. 

PART FIRST. 
Pastoral Duties. 



CHAPTER I. PAGE 

The Call to Preach 1 

The Methodist Belief— Evidences of a Call. 



CHAPTER II. 

An Outline of the Duties of the Pastor 6 

First Church Council — Prayer — Private Prayer the Source 
of Power — Public Prayer — Pastoral Visiting — Public 
Preaching — To Save Sinners — To Nurture the Church — 
Dignity of the Work — Joy . 

CHAPTER III. 

The Duties Peculiar to the Itinerancy, and Preparation 
for It 18 

Itinerant System — Not Tyrannical — Not Oppressive — 
Preparation Necessary — Go to College — Prepare Care- 
fully for Examinations — Read Extensively — Books 
Suggested. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Preparing a Sermon 23 

Good Text Necessary — Two Good Ways — Avoid (1) Spir- 
itualizing; (2) Humorous Instances; (3) Misapplied 
Words ; (4) Taking Text Without Regard to Context. 
Kind of Preaching: (1) Topical; (2) Textual; (3) Ex- 
pository; (4) Historical. 

00 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. PAGE 

The Development of a Sermon «. 33 

Three Parts: (1) Exegesis; (2) Argument, Sources of Ar- 
guments and Illustrations; (3) Application. Writing — 
Memorizing — Preserving and Preaching Old Sermons. 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Delivery of a Sermon 39 

Having Something to Say — Deep Breathing Necessary — 
Russell's Exercises — Spurgeon on the Voice — Moderate 
Lung Force — Moderate Tones — Voice Suited to Matter 
—Cultivate Voice — Gesture. 



PART SECOND. 

Administration of a Charge. 

CHAPTER I. 

Going to Your First "Work, and Organizing It 53 

Equipment — What to Do — Find Local Steward, Confer- 
ence Secretary, and List of Members of Each Class — 
Stewards' Meeting — Be Satisfied. 

CHAPTER II. 

Pastoral Visiting 56 

1. The Preacher in the Homes: Why Needed; Prayer; 
How Conducted. 2. The Preacher in the Sick Room: 
Opportunity for Good ; Let the Doctor Alone ; Be Cheer- 
ful. 3. The Preacher in Society: Be a Gentleman; 
False Dignity; Conversation; Avoid Exaggeration and 
Levity. 

CHAPTER III. 
Revival Meetings 61 

To be Held when Convenient to the People — Help—No 
Evangelist— How to Preach — How to Reach Sinners — 
Private Work — Old Methodist Usages — Mourner's 
Bench. 



CONTENTS. Vll 

CHAPTER IV. 

Page 

Church Services and Societies 64 

Public Service — Prayer Meeting — Class Meeting — Sunday 
School — Ep worth League — Woman's Societies. 

CHAPTER V. 

Official Meetings and Church Finances 68 

Church Conference — Quarterly Conference — Finance — 
Preacher Responsible — Begin Early — Never Fail. 



PART THIRD. 

The Execution of Discipline. 

CHAPTER I. 

Maintaining Discipline in the Church 75 

By Preaching, Admonition, Expulsion — Authority of the 
Church — Responsibility of the Pastor. 

CHAPTER II. 

SECTION I. 

Forms Suggested in Cases of Immorality. 

Form 1. Appointing a Member of a Committee of Investi- 
gation , 83 

Form 2. Notice to Accused of the Appointment of Investi- 
gating Committee, and its Time and Place of Meetings . . 84 

Form 3. Notice of the Same to the Accuser 84 

Form 4. Report of Investigating Committee 84 

Form 5. Notice to Defendant of Time and Place of Trial (to 
be sent by hand to Defendant, with a Copy of the Charges 

and Specifications 87 

Form 6. Summoning Witness 87 

Form 7. Appointing a Member of the Committee of Trial . 88 
Form 8. Judgment of a Church Court (see Form 4, Case B, 
for corresponding bill) 88 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

SECTION II. 

Forms Necessary in Taking Depositions. Page 

Depositions 92 

Form 9. Application for a Special Commissioner 93 

Form 10. Appointing Special Commissioner (limited to the 

case or cases named) 93 

Form 11. Commissioner's Notice to Prosecutor 94 

Form 12. Appointing Commissioner to Take Depositions . . 94 

Form 13. Commissioner's Notice to Defendant 95 

Form 14. Pastor's Notice to Defendant when Taking Depo- 
sitions of One or More Specified Witnesses 95 

Form 15. Pastor's Notice to Defendant when Intending to 

take General Depositions 96 

CHAPTER III. 
Forms Suggested in Cases of "Improper Tempers/ 9 of Heresy, and 
of Disputes. 
Form 16. Finding of Committee in Case of Improper Tem- 
pers 97 

Form 17. Finding of Committee in Case of Heresy 99 

Form 18. Report of Committee in Case Growing Out of a 
Dispute 101 

CHAPTER IV. 

Forms in Appellate Cases. 

Appeal of a Member 106 

Form 19. Appeal of Defendant to Quarterly Conference. . . . 107 
Form 20. Judgment of Quarterly Conference in Appeal 

Cases 109 

Form 21. Appointing a Committee in a Remanded Case. . . Ill 
Form 22. Report of a Committee in a Remanded Case 111 

CHAPTER V. 

Exemplifying the Foregoing Forms 7 and Giving Some New Cases. 

Form 23. Proceedings of Investigating Committee 115 

Form 24. Proceedings of Trial 121 

Form 25. Deposition of Witness 123 

Form 26. Quarterly Conference Trying Appealed Case 127 



CONTENTS. IX 

CHAPTER VI. 
Miscellaneous Forms. Page 

Form 27. Report on Epworth League, Sunday School, and 
the Instruction of Children - 132 

Form 28. Report of the Preacher in Charge on the General 
State of the Church 133 

Form 29. Report of the Preacher in Charge to a Church 
Conference 134 

Form 30. Subscription for a Church Building 134 

Form 31. Subscription for Building a Parsonage 135 

Form 32. Report of the Board of Trustees to the Fourth 
Quarterly Conference 135 

Form 33. Recommendation for an Exhorter's License from 
a Church Conference 136 

Form 34. Recommendation for License to Preach by Quar- 
terly Conference 137 

Form 35. Form of Devise by Will 137 

Form 36. Form of a Deed of Gift 138 

CHAPTER VII. 
Forms of Official Papers. 

No. I. Certificate of a Member 139 

No. II. Certificate of an Exhorter or Local Preacher 139 

No. III. Exhorter's License 140 

No. IV. Local Preacher's License . , 140 

No. V. Recommendation for Deacon's Orders 141 

No. VI. Recommendation for Elder's Orders 142 

No. VII. Recommendation for Admission on Trial into the 

Traveling Connection 143 

No. VIII. Recommendation for Recognition of Orders 144 

No. IX. Restoration of Credentials — Application by a Quar- 
terly Conference 145 

No. X. Restoration of Credentials — Application by Annual 

Conference 146 

No. XL Certificate of Location . . . 147 

No. XII. Report of Recording Steward c . . . , . 9 . . 147 



PART FIRST. 
Pastoral Duties. 



(xi) 



THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 



CHAPTEE I. 

The Call to Pkeach. 

THERE are those who, exalting the priesthood of 
the ordinary members of the Church, deny the di- 
vine authority for the pastoral office. The privilege 
of a child of God cannot be too much insisted upon. 
He is a king, a priest, and a prophet, or it is his priv- 
ilege to be all of these. Nevertheless, the Lord, who 
organized his Church as the visible representative of 
his invisible kingdom, knew that both the sheep and 
the lambs of his flock needed careful attention; and 
the office of overseer and pastor of that flock is God- 
appointed. 

God has always had men commissioned as am- 
bassadors to offer terms of peace to sinners. "Now 
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God 
did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, 
be ye reconciled to God." (2 Cor. v. 20.) "And we 
beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor 
among you, and are over you in the Lord, and ad- 
monish you, and to esteem them very highly in love 
for their work's sake." (1 Thess. v. 12-15.) "And from 
Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of 
the Church. And when they were come to him, he 
said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I 

a) 



2 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

came into Asia, after what manner I have been with 
you at all seasons. . . . Take heed therefore 
unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which 
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the 
Church of God, which he hath purchased with his 
own blood." (Acts xx. 17, 18, 28.) 

The man who fills this office is not self-appointed 
to this divine work, but divinely selected. "Ye have 
not chosen me, but I have chosen you," was the orig- 
inal assertion as relating to the first ministers, and 
is a statement which is still true of every true min- 
ister. 

Methodism, in common with most Churches, be- 
lieves in a call to the ministry. We believe that 
God selects his workmen who are to advance his 
cause among men, and that he does not leave this to 
the misguided vanity of the candidate, or to the err- 
ing judgment of the Church. To every conscientious 
young man who feels moved to undertake this work 
it becomes a very important question : "Am I really 
called of God to preach?" The answer to this ques- 
tion will not be generally very easily found. It 
seems that it is the divine intention that there should 
be a conflict just here. It is best that the young 
man concerned should be led to earnest self-exam- 
ination, to analyze his motives, and to listen earnest- 
ly for the guidance of the "still $mall voice." With- 
out any hope, therefore, of obviating a struggle 
which I believe necessary, but with a hope that it 
may help to a wise and truthful answer to this ques- 
tion, I will here lay down some of the things essen- 
tial to a genuine call to preach. 

Pirst: There should be a clear perception of the 



THE CALL TO PREACH. 6 

solemnity and responsibility of the ministerial of- 
fice. If this is so keen as to lead to a mighty shrink- 
ing from the responsibility, all the better. If the 
call is based in a vanity that desires to flourish its 
accomplishments in the face of admiring multitudes, 
or in the mere itch of oratory that yearns for a 
theme adequate to its powers, or in laziness that 
seeks for an easy method of making a living, then it 
is not a divine call. Alas for the man who thus 
unadvisedly rushes into a sacred place! and alas 
for the people he serves and the Church he repre- 
sents! Out of this class come the sore-headed, dis- 
appointed, and sour preachers whose existence is 
a hindrance to the gospel and a trial to the faith of 
their brethren. I do not believe that anyone is re- 
ally called of God who does not have a profound 
sense of the sacredness of this office, and of his own 
unfitness for it. And yet, so weak is humanity, I 
recognize the fact that into the solemn chorus of 
other genuine voices that call us to preach vanity is 
apt to intrude her own unwelcome notes. I do not 
demand that there should be an entire absence of 
such, but that they should be valued at their true 
worth as evidences against the call instead of in fa- 
vor of it. So far as they enter into our own decision 
they are disturbing elements, and their presence at 
all calls for greater caution in reaching a decision. 
Again, I do not mean that the consciousness of pe- 
culiar aptitude for this work in the possession of 
natural gifts is a proof that a man is mistaken in re- 
gard to his call. This is inseparable often from 
those gifts. But we should be sure that we are after 
the good of man and the glory of God in dedicating 



4 THE ITINEEANT'S GUIDE. 

these gifts to him, and are not moved by the lower 
motives of vanity and ambition. 

Second: There should be a genuine experience of 
grace, and a yearning desire to impart the same 
blessing to others. This is the most essential point. 
I doubt not that many are impressed with the idea 
that they ought to preach before they are converted, 
but in all such cases there is (a consciousness that 
they ought to be converted before they yield to the 
call. No man is fit to preach Christ to others until 
he has found him himself, and no man can success- 
fully win souls who is not filled with a burning de- 
sire to benefit them. The desire to bestow the bless- 
ings of religion upon others is peculiar to all God's 
children, but the man who is to proclaim his truth 
should have a double portion of this yearning. The 
Saviour says to all, " Freely ye have received, freely 
give," but he spoke these words to ministers espe- 
cially. 

Third : There should be a feeling that the Spirit 
impels to this work. This is the central fact, and 
of this all else is merely corroborative. But this 
direct call of the Spirit will be in accord with each 
peculiar temperament: clear and distinct to some, 
and low and indefinite to others. In every case we 
ought to look for such indication of the genuineness 
of this call as I am trying to point out. No matter 
how clear the divine call may seem to us, if we have 
not this other evidence we had better wait awhile. 

Fourth: The chief corroboration,, if we possess all 
those previously spoken of, is the authority of the 
Church. If our brethren agree that we possess the 
gifts and moral qualities necessary to this high of- 



THE CALL TO PKEACH. 5 

fice, we may accept their judgment as corroborative 
of our own and of that mysterious voice we think we 
hear. If, on the contrary, the Church hesitates to 
confer upon us her authority, we should accept her 
decision for the present. If, however, the impres- 
sion of our call continue, we should endeavor so to 
improve ourselves and so to show forth our zeal and 
efficiency in working for our Lord as a layman that 
the Church shall be brought at last to recognize and 
indorse our call. 

If we take the opposition of brethren in a bad or 
impatient spirit, charging on them improper or per- 
sonal motives, then we give the best possible evi- 
dence that we are mistaken as to our call. The 
Church ought to judge of a candidate's fitness for the 
ministry as though there were no such thing as a 
divine call, and she ought to insist on the call com- 
ing from God as though she had nothing to do with 
the matter. 



CHAPTER II. 

An Outline of the Duties of the Pastor. 

IN the first council of the Church, called to provide 
new officers to take charge of secular affairs, we 
find the apostles of Christ setting forth the peculiar 
duties of the ministry in these words: "But we will 
give ourselves continually to prayer, and the minis- 
try of the word." (Acts vi. 4.) In the contempla- 
tion of these words we can obtain an outline of our 
duties as pastors. Considering them carefully, we 
find the following: 

I. The fundamental obligation resting upon us as 
preachers is "to give" ourselves to prayer. 

It is not necessary for us to stop here and discuss 
the nature of prayer. Those that I am now address- 
ing are supposed to be familiar with it both in theory 
and practice. Our duty at this time is to define its 
place and importance as an element of the gospel 
ministry. Any acquaintance with the nature of 
prayer and its relation to Christian character, and 
with the duties devolving upon the pastor, must 
lead anyone to conclude that is is an absolute ne- 
cessity to him. The best proof, however, to us is 
the word of God. In a general assembly of the 
Church in its inspired age, called by the apostles, in- 
spired men, its proceedings recorded by Luke, an in- 
spired writer, and its design to relieve the apostles 
of all duties except those properly belonging to the 
ministry, we find them placing prayer as the first re- 
maining duty. In corroboration of its necessity — 
(6) 



DUTIES OF THE PASTOE. 7 

though God's word needs no bolstering proof — we 
have only to appeal to every true preacher in the 
ages past. 

Prayer, as it relates itself to the ministry, natu- 
rally divides itself into two divisions — private 
prayer, and public prayer. 

1. Private Prayer. 

This may be again divided into two subordinate 
divisions: first, that act of devotion when the indi- 
vidual comes in the attitude and article of personal 
intercession with his Creator; second, that state of 
the soul in which, with continuous consciousness of 
dependence upon God, its desires, without being 
formulated into articulate words, are constantly go- 
ing forth to him in search of support and strength. 
These are not two different things, but two phases 
of the same thing. 

This private, personal prayer of the minister is 
the only instrument by which he can obtain that 
power which he must have to qualify him for his re- 
sponsible task. Our Saviour, in his last conversa- 
tion before his crucifixion with the very men of 
whom our text was uttered, and that conversation 
had with them in their character as witnesses of his 
life and ministers of his gospel, says: "Without me 
ye can do nothing." Ah! he puts this truth into one 
of his incomparable similes: "As the branch cannot 
bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no 
more can ye except ye abide in me." Here you see 
the statement of the powerlessness of ministers 
simply as such. Christ said of certain religious 
teachers: "Can the blind lead the blind? shall they 
both not fall into the ditch? " 



8 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

Thank God, brethren, over against these state- 
ments we have our Saviour's words: "I am the vine 
and ye are the branches; he that abideth in me and I 
in him, bringeth forth much fruit." "I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world." Then 
Paul says: "I can do all things through Christ, 
which strengtheneth me." Powerless ourselves, 
with Christ working in us there is no limit to our 
spiritual might. Now the one great condition upon 
which this power is bestowed upon the ministry is 
prayer. 

The curse of God rested upon the holy and almost 
blameless Moses because he dared to smite the rock 
without an appeal to him. So the wrath of the Most 
High will rest upon every minister who does not look 
to him for help, but dares to work in his own feeble- 
ness. The case of Moses, however, reminds me of 
one thing: though Moses was punished for his sin, 
yet God sent the water to the famished host of Israel. 
So God often gives efficacy to his word coming from 
a prayerless, perhaps a godless heart; but in that 
case the preacher may look for punishment, not re- 
ward. 

Yes, prayer is the great preparatory work of the 
ministry. In the closet is the place to receive power 
from on high ; there it is that the angel of the Lord 
touches his lips with a live coal from off the altar. 
Nor can careful study, profound research, and great 
mental activity supply the place of the devotional 
spirit, In fact, unless study and investigation 
are themselves so interpenetrated and saturated 
with prayer as to be indivisible from it, they are 
worthless. All our learning, all our mental stores, 



DUTIES OF THE PASTOR. 9 

must pass through the alchemic process of prayer 
before they are ready for the pulpit. Devout medi- 
tation and research must be elements of a pastor's 
prayer. If he exhausts himself in clamoring to 
Heaven for preaching power, without using the mind 
which God has given him to search for truth, and to 
utilize the material made ready to his hands, his min- 
istry will be a failure. 

On the other hand, to substitute study for prayer is 
a more dangerous error, and one which the tenden- 
cies of the day are more calculated to develop. I de- 
cidedly prefer the position of our Hardshell Baptist 
friends, which insists on prayer and ignores study, 
to that modern aesthetic taste which insists on men- 
tal vigor and rhetorical beauty, but ignores the de- 
vout and prayerful spirit. I had rather be a dunce, 
and preach Christ in corrupt English and rude rhet- 
oric, but with the unction of the Spirit, than a pol- 
ished and gifted speaker whose eloquent sentences 
are as cold as the breath of our Texas northers. But 
I admire neither the zealous dunce nor the powerless 
orator, nor do I regard either as suited to fill the pul- 
pit of the Most High God. "Study to show thyself 
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to 
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," and 
above, all things be "instant in prayer." Here is 
found the secret of the success of the fathers of Meth- 
odism. They were men of prayer. Look at that 
young man, unlearned, uncultured, who in the early 
dawn is on his knees with open Bible, praying, med- 
itating, studying for hours at a time. What wonder 
that he grew to be Bishop McKendree, the unwearied 
and glorious leader of the Methodist hosts? When 



10 THE ITINEBANT'S GUIDE, 

we forsake the method of the fathers we will lose 
their power. 

2. Public Prayer. 

Again, it devolves on the ministry to lead the pub- 
lic devotions of the Church. If a pastor is accus- 
tomed to close intercourse with God in private, if the 
spirit of prayer is habitual with him, he will find no 
difficulty in approaching his Maker in public wor- 
ship. Then his prayers will be warm with genuine 
fervor. Otherwise, they will be cold and formal, 
worthless as prayers, whatever other excellences 
may characterize them. When a man has felt the 
burden of the Church upon his heart, and often car- 
ried that burden to his Master in his closet, then 
when he comes to lead his people in worship there is 
a richness and fullness to the voice of public prayer 
that lifts the heart of every devout listener nearer to 
God — so near that he hears the conversation between 
him and one of his beloved children. This duty of 
leading public worship demands serious and prayer- 
ful consideration. It is a duty which we generally 
depend upon the spur of the moment to perform, 
and therefore it is frequently done in a halting and 
bungling manner, or, worse still, in trite phrases 
which have long ago lost their meaning. I would 
not have you study your prayers, but I would insist 
upon a careful consideration of the spiritual wants 
of your congregation and giving those wants voice 
in your approach to God's throne. I do insist, fur- 
ther, that in approaching that dread throne we avoid 
all obvious faults, all mumbling of meaningless 
phrases, and try to put our new wants into new 
words. Mr. Spurgeon makes one suggestion on this 



DUTIES OF THE PASTOB. 11 

subject to which I wish to call especial attention: 
" Never compliment a brother by calling on him to 
lead in prayer." 

II. We now come to the second duty peculiar to 
Christ's chosen ministers. "And the ministry of the 
word." The Greek expressions translated "of the 
word" embrace in meaning, as used here and else- 
where in the New Testament, the whole of the gos- 
pel — all that system of truth, with that "life and im- 
mortality" which Christ brought to light. The word 
"ministry" shows that we are to become the servants 
of this doctrine, the ambassadors to declare the 
truth. 

The first duty which devolves upon us, that of 
prayer, is subjective in its character. It is a duty 
which rests between us and God, and is intended to 
make us suitable instruments for his purposes. The 
second, the ministry of the word, is objective, and is 
a duty which lies between us and the world. This 
last is the mighty gospel of the living God which has 
been committed to us, and we are commanded to de- 
clare it to the "uttermost part of the earth." This 
is our one work as far ias the world is concerned. 
This ministry is performed in tw r o ways. 

1. In pastoral visitation and social intercourse 
with the people. We are told how Paul preached 
the word, "both publicly and from house to house." 
We must imitate him. A greater than Paul in- 
structed the loving Mary in her home in Bethany, 
and he is our great exemplar. We go into the pri- 
vate circles as the ministers of God, and we ought to 
let our light shine both in our words and conduct. 
Brethren, I verily believe we talk too little of Christ 



12 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

and his holy religion in our social intercourse with 
the world. We are so afraid of casting our pearls 
before swine that we keep them all to ourselves. 
We are so afraid of wounding the refined taste of the 
world, and of having that hateful word "cant" 
thrown at us, that we run the risk of wounding Him 
who died for us by neglecting his work. 

I know the difficulties that are found at this point, 
and painfully realize the delicacy of the pastor's mis- 
sion; yet, my brethren, I insist that both in stated 
visits to our flock and in our commingling with the 
world we must ever be on the outlook for opportuni- 
ties to preach Christ. It is not our mission to amuse 
and entertain. Though we may forget that we are 
ministers of the Lord Jesus, be assured that others 
never do. The levity of the minister in the private 
circles often nullifies his most earnest words from 
the pulpit. Don't understand me to recommend that 
sour and morose countenance which never smiles or 
that pharisaic dignity that never bends. The pres- 
ence of Christ's ambassadors should be a benedic- 
tion to a Christian home. "Kejoice evermore," says 
Paul, the most energetic and zealous of preachers. 
Our religion is full of gladness and hope to humanity, 
and we, its witnesses and apologists, ought to let our 
lives reflect its nature. But this cheerful simplicity 
which becomes the preacher is equally removed from 
the joke-loving clown and sour-visaged ascetic. 

Modern advancement and civilization have added 
much to the equipments and paraphernalia of the 
pastor. The rapid publication of good books and 
the cheapness of religious papers increase greatly 
his power for good if he will utilize them. 



DUTIES OF THE PASTOR. 13 

2. "The ministry of the word" means preaching. 
Brethren, it is impossible to overstate the power and 
importance of this public proclamation of divine 
truth by servants chosen by the Master himself. 
"It has pleased God by the foolishness of preaching" 
to transform the world. u So then faith comes by 
hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This is 
God's chief agency in the evangelization of the world. 
The object of preaching is to propagate the truth 
of the gospel and to persuade men to accept it. In 
this connection I must mention some things that I 
do not regard as in any true sense preaching. 

(1) The declamation of <a mere lecture, brilliant 
though it be with sesthetic gems and laudatory of 
moral truth, is not preaching. Our mission is not 
ended when we have uttered things which would 
equally become a Mohammedan "monloic," a Hindoo 
"gury," or an Indian " medicine man." What though 
these things come from a voice silvery as a trumpet's 
blasts, are conveyed in words of impassioned elo- 
quence, and are accompanied with action worthy of 
a master of dramatic art? What though people 
hang enraptured on the speaker's lips? What 
though our wealthiest congregations vie with one 
another to obtain his pastoral services? All this 
may please a man's vanity, but it cannot meet the 
demands of the gospel upon its faithful ministry. 
We are to serve the Church, but we are to please the 
Master. 

(2) The propagation of a nmn's own vague specula- 
tion is not preaching. You speculate upon who 
wrote the book of Job, upon the nature and destiny 
of Satan, or upon the varying degrees among angels, 



14 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

and call it preaching the word. The pulpit is the 
place to proclaim God's own revealed truth, not to 
air your own empty phantasies. 

(3) It can never be the prime mission to defend the 
gospel of Christ. We must be "set for the defense of 
the truth as delivered to the saints," and when occa- 
sion serves we must repel all attacks upon it. Bat 
the gospel carries its own defense with it; it com- 
mends itself, when preached in its purity, directly to 
the intuition of the mass of mankind. It cannot be 
necessary, therefore, for us to cease our aggressive 
warfare upon sin and devote our time and abilities 
to parrying the puny blows aimed by presumptuous 
men at the immutable truth of God. 

The objects of preaching are two: to save sinners, 
and to build up believers in the knowledge and faith 
of the gospel. 

1. To save sinners. 

In preaching to sinners we must present the posi- 
tive doctrines of our Christianity. The lost state of 
the sinner, the "old story" of love and redemption, 
the dread doom of the damned, the glorious reward 
of the faithful, must be presented clearly and dis- 
tinctly. These truths from God's word must be ac- 
companied by a positive personal experience of 
Christ's "power on earth to forgive sins." There 
must be no sugar-coating, no keeping back of any "of 
the counsels of God," and yet all must be done kindly 
and lovingly. 

2. The nurture of the Church. 

Here we have a wider field. All that tends to re- 
buke sin, to arouse from indifference, to encourage 
hope, to strengthen faith, to awaken drooping ener- 



DUTIES OF THE PASTOE. 15 

gies, to fan love to a warmer glow, and to lead the 
children of God to 'more consecrated lives should be 
brought to bear upon the heart of the Church. From 
out of God's own word we are to teach his people 
more of his revealings of himself and to make glad 
their hearts out of the inexhaustible treasures of his 
promises. We are to "feed" the Church of Christ 
not with our own chaffy vaporings, but with the "sin- 
cere meat of his word," which God has provided so 
abundantly to our hand. We are to administer the 
consolations of God's grace to the broken-hearted. 
We are to lay the great truths of his revelation, 
warmed in our own heart of hearts by the fire of the 
Holy Ghost, upon the quivering hearts of the lis- 
teners. 

Every true sermon has one of these objects — the 
salvation of sinners, or the nurture of believers — as 
its main purpose. If these are your objects, then all 
the treasures of revelation and nature, of art and 
science, of literature and philosophy, may be used to 
accomplish them. There can be no objection to 
learning or science, to logic or rhetoric, when used 
to enforce the gospel. The prophet of God must not 
allow himself to degenerate into a mere talking ma- 
chine. 

Brethren, this mission of God committed to us — 
viewed in reference to the Master we serve, the 
throne we proclaim, the audience we address, the 
objects for which we strive, or the reward which we 
may win — is the highest of earthly vocations. 

The man who feels that he has made a sacrifice in 
entering this service, whatever the ease or wealth 
or possible fame from which God has called him, is 



16 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

unworthy of the dignity which he wears. The man 
who, conscious of the supreme excellence of his mis- 
sion as a minister, swells and struts in overweening 
self-importance has either answered to some other's 
call or is about to let Satan cheat him out of his 
crown of rejoicing. The man who, unbidden by a 
higher power, would rush into this high place of his 
own accord and take upon his own shoulders its fear- 
ful responsibilities stands as the impersonation of 
imprudence and foolhardiness. The man who hears 
the voice of the Spirit startling him from his ease, 
and bidding him "Go, and as you go, preach"; who 
is tremulously conscious both of the lofty character 
of his mission and of his own weakness; who with a 
quick and sensitive heart commiserates the woes, ab- 
hors the wickedness, and yearns over the souls of 
others; who loves deeply and passionately the 
Church which Christ has commissioned him to feed ; 
whose highest ambition is to be an instrument fit for 
the Master's use; who fearlessly tries to win men's 
souls, though he miss their plaudits; who, realizing 
his dependence, has an unfaltering faith in God's 
power to make even him, "an earthen vessel," accom- 
plish his will and glorify his name — that man, 
though he may be little and unknown here, is one of 
the bravest and noblest of earth's heroes, and our 
Father has him in remembrance. Such a man of 
God commands the reverence and awakens the love 
of all true men, however he may awaken the ridicule 
and hate of those "who will not have this man to 
rule over them." 

I sometimes hear that the clergy do not receive the 
respect here in this country which should be award- 



DUTIES OF THE PASTOE. 17 

ed to men of their high calling. I am glad our peo- 
ple are not like the citizens of many states under 
papal rule, who bow in humble reverence to the 
priestly cowl, though they may know it covers an 
arrant knave. The mere calling deserves no honor 
unless the man by his individual worth makes it 
honorable. 

Brethren, this is not only the grandest of all voca- 
tions; it is the most delightful. It deals in the spir- 
itual, not the material; in the unseen, not the seen; 
in the eternal, not in the temporal. Here we have 
the best opportunities to "lay up for" ourselves 
"treasures in heaven." As Methodist preachers, 
more than any class upon the face of the earth, we 
can claim Christ's blessed promise: "If any man hath 
forsaken houses, or father or mother, or wife or child, 
for my sake and the kingdom's, it shall be returned 
to him in this present time many fold, and in the 
world to come eternal life." 
2 



CHAPTER III. 

The Duties Peculiar to the Itinerancy, and Preparation 

for It. 

I Entering the Itinerancy. 
• I am here writing for young men who propose to 
enter our Methodist itinerancy. These have not 
only to settle the question of their call to preach, 
but of their adaptation to a mighty and complex sys- 
tem, and their willingness to conform to its rules. 
While Methodism is one of the most flexible systems, 
readily adjusting itself to any condition, it demands 
of all who propose to enter the ranks of her itiner- 
ants that they be willing to adapt themselves to her 
just as she is. 

This system needs no defense at my hands. Her 
unparalleled achievements are the credentials which 
Methodism offers. This system does, however, make 
demands which require unusual sacrifices of her pas- 
tors. The entrance into this work is voluntary, and 
the question of willingness to make these sacrifices 
should be settled before we put ourselves into her 
harness. The physical, mental, and moral weakling 
should avoid the itinerancy. This is a warlike camp, 
not a hospital. Nor is this a good place for the self- 
seeker or the self-centered. It demands a sacrifice 
of self. A man of great eccentricities is sure to 
come to grief in this ministry. It requires a man 
who has put himself upon the altar of consecra- 
tion, and who is willing to do the Master's work 
anywhere. To such a man she offers opportunities 
(18) 



DUTIES PECULIAR TO THE ITINERANCY. 19 

for useful work and a reasonable support, and her 
great machinery will give him ever-enlarging fields 
for his developing faculties. And if at any time he 
finds her work irksome, he has the privilege of hon- 
orably and voluntarily retiring. If a man is adapted 
to the itinerancy, he will find that in it Emerson's 
"law of compensation" works, and every sacrifice 
will be offset by its corresponding advantage. 

This system has been rather severely handled by 
critics. The chief point of criticism is that it fails 
to allow the true development of the individuality. 
It is supposed to be tyrannical and repressive of gen- 
ius. It cannot be called tyrannical, for no one enters 
this band save of his own option, or remains in it 
longer than he chooses. Any man's connection with 
the Methodist itinerancy, from beginning to end, is 
voluntary. As to repressing individuality, a suffi- 
cient answer is to point to the long line of celebrated, 
eminent, and useful men who have been developed in 
it, and who most assuredly have not been wanting in 
individuality. Another objection is against the time 
limit rather than appointive power. This objection 
asserts that the Church fails to get the best out of a 
man with a remarkable genius for a city pastorate, 
and that such a man under the itinerancy cannot be 
developed to the full measure of his powers. A suf- 
ficient answer to this is found in the fact that not 
one in five hundred preachers of any denomination 
proves to be possessed of such remarkable powers; 
and any system should be adjusted to the four hun- 
dred and ninety- nine rather than to the one. 

The itinerancy is simply doing systematically 
what all Churches are compelled to do. The history 



20 THE itinerant's gcjide. 

of Churches with settled pastorates shows that they 
move almost on the average of once in three years. 
I have twice in my short career been as old a pastor 
as was in the city where I was stationed. 

II. Preparation for the Ministry. 

It has been often and well said that "a call to 
preach is a call to get ready to preach." Education 
is all but universal in our country, and the day is 
past when the ignorant and uncultured man, no 
matter how pure his motives or how earnest his ef- 
forts, can be a successful pastor. The sheep must 
not know more than the shepherd. Fortunately, 
there were never such opportunities for a pious but 
determined young man to procure an education. In 
our day no young man ought to think of entering the 
ministry without a good English education; and if 
he is young and unencumbered, he ought to procure a 
regular training before he joins the Conference. If 
this involves much work and self-sacrifice, so much 
the better. That is the most valuable training in 
itself. If you have determined upon a college edu- 
cation, then allow me a word as to the selection of a 
school. You should, of course, go to a Methodist 
college. Do not open your career by an act of de- 
nominational disloyalty. Having determined upon 
this, then the question, Of Which? comes up. By no 
means go to a small, struggling college. A weak 
college can no more do full work than a weak man. 
Especially avoid schools which are colleges only in 
name. It is a great misfortune to trot through a 
meager curriculum under poor teachers with the idea 
that you are getting a thorough education, and then, 
when it is too late for remedy, find out your mistake. 



DUTIES PECULIAR TO THE ITINERANCY. 21 

Select a college to which you can probably send 
your grandsons after awhile, and whose diploma will 
be respected as long as you live Having started to 
college, keep at it until you finish. 

Many get impatient and hurry from the halls of 
learning to the field. It is true the field is white 
unto the harvest, but that harvest needs real men, 
not striplings, to gather it. God kept Moses at the 
schools of the Egyptians for forty years, and then in 
the wilderness with him forty years more, before he 
had a leader to take charge of his Israel. Paul also 
learned at the feet of Gamaliel, and after his con- 
version was kept waiting three years in Arabia be- 
fore he entered upon his work. 

If, however, a classical education lies beyond your 
power, if you have a good common education you 
need not despair. The first thing you have to do is 
to prepare thoroughly for the examination for ad- 
mission to the Annual Conference. Our committees 
of examination are getting quite rigid. Enough 
well-equipped young men are knocking at our door 
to fill our works, so that we are no longer compelled 
to take raw and undisciplined recruits. Hence a 
young man should be master of the required studies 
before he comes to be examined by these committees. 
It will not hurt even the college graduate to brush 
up on common school branches before undergoing 
this ordeal, while those of meager education would 
do well to put themselves under competent guidance 
in their efforts to be ready. Having passed the first 
examination, you should address yourself each year 
to mastering the prescribed course until you have 
completed it all. This constitutes a good course of 



22 THE itinerant's guide. 

study, and a man who has mastered it cannot be 
called an uneducated man. During the time of this 
course, however, allow me to warn you against some 
errors. Do not permit yourself, under the excuse that 
all your studies are upon sacred subjects, to neglect 
the devotional reading of the Bible. Do not permit 
yourself, in the study of the Bible and the prescribed 
course, to neglect general literature. That is your 
only road to liberal culture. The young man who has 
gone through a college course has necessarily learned 
much of literature at large — he has simply absorbed 
enough to give him a sort of general information ; but 
one who has been deprived of this opportunity must 
read, read, read. Worlds of information are open to 
him in the English language. What shall you read? 
My answer to that will apply to any young preacher, 
whether he has the advantage of an education or not. 
Read only the great masters of literature; waste no 
time on second-rate writers. I would not pretend to 
prescribe a fixed course for you in the world of liter- 
ature, but I suggest that no one should omit the fol- 
lowing books, reading translations, of course, where 
you cannot read the original. In light literature: 
Scott, Dickens, George Eliot, Thackeray, Stevenson, 
Kingsley. In history: Macaulay, Green, Motley, 
Bancroft. In essays: Johnson, Lamb, Carlyle, Em- 
erson. In poetry: Homer, Virgil, Dante, Shakes- 
peare, Milton, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Longfellow. 
In philosophy: Plato, Bacon, Butlers Analogy, Kidd, 
Balfour. In science: Winchell, Argyle. Miscella- 
neous: Coleridge, Ruskin, Shairp, Gladstone. This 
is, of course, in addition to your theological books, 
and to magazines and papers. 



CHAPTEB IV. 

Preparing a Sermon. 

I Selecting a Text. 
• The selection of a good text is half the battle 
in sermon-making. The man who has caught the 
knack of wisely and appropriately choosing the 
scripture to enforce in his preaching is not likely to 
stumble in treating it. There are two standpoints 
from which a text may be legitimately chosen. The 
first is when in our personal reading of the Bible and 
meditating upon it some passage grows luminous to 
us, furnishing to our own hearts either comfort or 
enlightenment or conviction or joy. Then, if we re- 
alize that this truth will be just as beneficial to 
others as it has proved to us, it becomes the best text 
we can use. A sermon upon such a passage is the 
presentation to others, and the enforcement, of a 
truth that has been brought home to our hearts by 
the Holy Spirit. Happy the man who goes into the 
pulpit conscious that he has such a message for his 
people. 

The second standpoint from which a good text may 
be selected is when in intercourse with our people 
we have found that something is needed by them, 
whether comfort, exhortation, reproof, or enlighten- 
ment, and, filled with the realization of the food 
needed by our flock, we go to the great granary of 
God's word to procure it. If we seek devoutly and 
diligently, we can find in the Bible something that is 

(23) 



24 THE itinerant's guide. 

adapted to our use in every such case. Now there is 
danger of some mistakes being made. 

First, illegitimate spiritualizing. We find some 
historical event in the Bible, or some statement of 
a material or secular truth, that if transferred to 
the spiritual world exactly enforces the truth we 
have in hand. In such a case the temptation to 
put upon that incident, or those chance words, the 
duty of conveying this spiritual truth is very strong. 
It is very dangerous to get into the habit of wrest- 
ing scripture so as to make it convey a truth not 
in the mind of the writer. I do not mean that there 
are not passages that can be used allegorically and 
with splendid effect. But it is well for us to remem- 
ber Mr. Wesley- s caution: "Be sparing in allegoriz- 
ing or spiritualizing." 

That you may understand what kind of allegoriz- 
ing or spiritualizing I object to, I will give you a few 
humorous instances of Mr. Spurgeon's, contained in 
"Lectures to My Students": 

Mr. Slopdash, of whom Bowland Hill tells us in his "Vil- 
lage Dialogues," is but a type of a numerous generation. That 
worthy is described as delivering himself of a discourse upon 
"I had three white baskets on my head," from the dream of 
Pharaoh's baker. Upon this the "thrice-anointed ninny- 
hammer," as a friend of mine would call him, discoursed upon 
the doctrine of the Trinity. 

A dear minister of Christ, a venerable and excellent broth- 
er, one of the most instructive ministers in his county, told me 
that he missed one day a laboring man and his wife from his 
chapel. He missed them again and again, Sunday after Sun- 
day, and one Monday, meeting the husband in the street, he 
said to him: " Well, John, I have not seen you lately." 

"No, sir," was the reply; "we did not seem to profit under 
your ministry as we used to do." 



PREPARING A SERMON. 25 

" Indeed, John ; I am very sorry to hear it." 

"Well, me and my missis likes the doctrines of grace, and 
therefore we have gone to hear Mr. Bawler lately." 

"Oh, you mean the good man at the high Calvinist meet- 
ing?" 

"Yes, sir; and we are so happy. We get right good food 
there, sixteen ounces to the pound. We were getting half 
starved under your ministry, though I shall always respect you 
as a man, sir." 

"All right, my friend. Of course you ought to go where you 
get food for your soul. I only hope it is good. But what did 
you get last Sunday?" 

" Oh, we had a most refreshing time, sir. In the morning we 
had — I don't seem to like to tell you — however, we had really 
a most precious time." 

"Yes, but what was it, John?" 

"Well, sir; Mr. Bawler led us blessedly into that passage, 
'Art thou a man given to appetite? Put a knife to thy throat 
when thou sittest before a ruler.' " 

"Whatever did he make out of that? " 

" Well, sir ; I can tell you what he made out of it, but I 
should like to know what you would have said upon it." 

"I don't know, John. I don't think I should have taken it 
at all ; but if I must have spoken about it, I should have said 
that a person given to eating and drinking should take care 
what he was about when he was in the presence of great men, 
or he would ruin himself. Gluttony, even in this life, is ruin- 
ous." 

"Ah," said the man, "that is your dead-letter way of ren- 
dering it. As I told my missis the other day, ever since we 
have been to hear Mr, Bawler the Bible has been opened up 
to us so that we can see a great deal more in it than we use 
to do." 

"Yes, but what did Mr. Bawler tell you about his text?" 

" Well, he said a man given to appetite was a young convert 
who is sure to have a tremendous appetite for preaching, and 
always wants food ; but he ain't always nice about what sort of 
food it is." 

"What next, John?" 

"He said that if the young convert went to sit before a ruler 



26 the itinebant's guide. 

— that is to say, a legal preacher, or a duty-faith man — it would 
be the worse for hirn." 

"But how about the knife, John?" 

"Well, sir, Mr. Bawler said it v/as a very dangerous thing to 
hear legal preachers; it would be sure to ruin the man, and he 
might just as well cut his throat at once, sir." 

The subject was, I suppose, the mischievous effects of young- 
Christians listening to any preachers but those of the hyper 
school ; and the moral drawn from it was that sooner than this 
brother should go to hear his former minister, he had better 
cut his throat! That was accommodating considerably. Ye 
critics, we give over such dead horses as these to your doggish 
teeth. Eend and devour as ye will ; we will not upbraid. 

We have heard of another performer who delivered his mind 
upon Proverbs xxi. 17: "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor 
man ; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich." The Prov- 
erbs are a favorite field for spiritualizers to disport themselves 
withal. Our worthy disposed of the proverb in this fashion: 
"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man" — that is, he shall 
be a poor man in spirit ; " and he that loveth wine and oil " — that 
is to say, rejoices in covenant provisions, and enjoys the oil and 
the wine of the gospel, " shall not be rich " — that is, he shall not 
be held rich in his own esteem; showing the excellence of 
those who are poor in spirit, and how they shall enjoy the 
pleasures of the gospel — a proper sentiment, but my carnal eyes 
fail to see it in the text. 

You have all heard of William Huntingdon's famous render- 
ing of the passage in Isaiah (xi. 8): "The sucking child shall 
play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his 
hand on the cockatrice' den." " The sucking child " — that is, the 
babe in grace — "shall play upon the hole of the asp." " The asp " 
— that is, the Arminian's mouth. Then follows an account of 
the games in which simple minds are more than a match for 
Arminian wisdom. Professors of the other school of divinity 
have usually had the good sense not to return the compliment, 
or the Antinomians might have found themselves ranked with 
the cockatrices, and their opponents boastfully defying them at 
the mouth of their dens. Such abuse only injures those who 
use it. Theological differences are better expounded and en- 
forced than by such buffoonery. 



PREPARING A SERMON. 27 

Ludicrous results sometimes arise from sheer stupidity in- 
flated with conceit. One instance may suffice. A worthy min- 
ister told me the other day that he had been preaching lately 
to his people upon the nine and twenty knives of Ezra. I 
am sure he would handle these edged tools discreetly, but I 
could not refrain from saying that I hoped he had not im- 
itated the very sage interpreter who saw in that odd number 
of knives a reference to the four and twenty elders of the 
Apocalypse. 

A passage in the Proverbs reads as follows: "For three things 
the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear; for 
a servant when he reigneth ; and a fool when he is filled with 
meat; for an odious woman when she is married; and a hand- 
maid that is heir to her mistress." A raving spiritualizer de- 
clares that this is a sweet picture of the work of grace in the 
soul, and shows what it is that disquiets Arminians, and sets 
them by the ears. "A servant when he reigneth "—that is, poor 
servants like ourselves when we are made to reign with Christ; 
"a fool w T hen he is filled with meat" — that is, poor foolish men 
like us when we are fed with finest of wheat of the gospel truth ; 
"an odious woman when she is married" — that is, a sinner 
when he is united to Christ; "a handmaid that is heir to her 
mistress " — that is, when we poor handmaids that were under the 
law bond-slaves, come into the privileges of Sarah, and become 
heirs to our mistress. 

I shall never forget a sermon preached by an uneducated but 
remarkable man, who was my near neighbor in the county. I 
had the notes of the discourse from his own lips, and I trust 
they will remain as notes, and never be preached from again 
in this world. The text was: "The night-hawk, the owl, and 
the cuckoo." That might not strike you as being exceedingly 
rich in matter. It did not so strike me, and therefore I inno- 
cently inquired: "And what were the heads?" He replied 
most archly: "Heads! why, ring the birds' necks, and there are 
three directly — the night-hawk, the owl, the cuckoo." He 
showed that these birds were all unclean under the law, and 
were plain types of unclean sinners. Night-hawks were per- 
sons who pilfered on the sly, also people who adulterated their 
goods and cheated their neighbors in an underhand way with- 
out being suspected to be rogues. As for the owls, they typified 



28 THE itinerant's guide. 

drunkards, who are always liveliest at night, while by day they 
will almost knock their heads against a post because they are 
so sleepy. There were owls also among professors. The owl 
is a very small bird when plucked; he only looks big because 
he wears so many feathers ; so, many professors are all feathers, 
and if you could take away their boastful professions, there 
would be very little of them left. Then the cuckoos were the 
Church clergy, who always utter the same note whenever they 
open their mouths in the church, and live on other birds' eggs 
with their church rates and tithes. The cuckoos were also, I 
think, the free-willers, who were always saying, "Do-do-do- 
do." 

Many passages which cannot, with propriety, be 
used as texts from which to expound the truth can 
be admirably utilized as illustrations to illuminate 
it. Of course the parables of Christ are in the very 
nature of allegories, and are to be used as such. The 
miracles of Christ also are concrete illustrations of 
spiritual truth, and we need not hesitate to use them 
as texts to that purpose. 

Another fault we are liable to in hunting for a text 
to present a truth already in our minds is one which 
we now treat as 

Second error: misapplied words. We find a 
phrase that, taken by itself, will enforce the truth 
upon which we wish to treat; but that phrase, in 
its original setting, is limited anfd modified in such 
a way that we totally alter the sense when we cut 
it loose from these modifiers and treat it by itself. 
In such a case to use it for our purposes is not to take 
a text, but to make one. For instance, if you found 
it necessary to set before your people the character 
of men who are really worthy of admiration and im- 
itation, and should select these words, "Who is 
worthy ?" (Kev. v. 2) you would be guilty of the 



PREPARING A SERMON. 29 

fault against which this warning is aimed; yet how 
readily these words lend themselves to some such 
treatment as follows: "Who is worthy?" First, treat 
who is not a worthy character, with various subdivi- 
sions, such as the unbelieving, immoral, etc. Sec- 
ond, who now is worthy? He is worthy who trusts 
in Christ; he is worthy who shows his trust by his 
works, etc. Such trifling is not uncommon, but it is 
highly reprehensible. Sometimes there are phrases 
which in themselves contain a truth great enough 
for a sermon, as "Our Father," "His name Jesus"; 
but we should rarely, if ever, take a mere word or 
phrase for a text. A text should be a definite 
thought expressed in a real proposition. 

Third error: taking a text without regard to con- 
text. This is to do with a sentence just what I have 
condemned in the phrase. No error is more common 
than this. The fact that our Bibles, as a matter of 
convenience, have been broken up into texts makes 
many forget that they were written just as other 
books are written. Each inspired writer has some 
topic in hand which he tries to impress upon the 
reader. Now if some sentence he uses in this con- 
nection is wrested from the context, and, standing 
by itself, is made to convey a meaning that was never 
in the mind of the writer, then we have another in- 
stance of " homemade scripture." There is no ob- 
jection, however, to our taking a subordinate truth 
instead of the main idea of the text. All that is in- 
sisted upon is that the truth should be clearly re- 
vealed. If in the selection of texts your mind should 
fall upon a familiar passage that exactly expresses 
what you believe, use that text Don't avoid a pas- 



30 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

sage because it is familiar; don't hunt for odd, pe- 
culiar passages for a text. 

II. Different Kinds of Sermons, and the Texts 
Suited to Them. 

It is especially desirable that a preacher should 
have variety, that he should not have a fixed and in- 
variable form for making his sermons. To prevent 
this, he should vary the character of the sermons 
themselves. There are several different kinds of 
sermons recognized, as the topical, textual, exposi- 
tory, and historical. 

1. Topical Preaching. 

A topical sermon is one in which the theme is al- 
ready in the mind of the preacher, and the text is 
a mere motto suited to it. For instance, a man de- 
termines to preach on patriotism, and selects the 
text : " Render unto Ccesar the things that are Cae- 
sar's.'' In such a case the sermon is made upon the 
subject, and not upon the text. A preacher should 
not permit himself to make a common practice, let 
alone a habit, of preaching such sermons. However, 
it may do occasionally. (On Thanksgiving Day, at 
the dedication of a church, and at funerals, etc., such 
sermons as above named may be used with propri- 
ety.) This character of sermons lends itself too 
readily to a man's presentation of his own views, fan- 
cies, speculation, and philosophy, instead of the re- 
vealed truth; and that is to miss the true object of 
preaching as far as possible. 

2. Textual Preaching. 

This is to take a short passage from the word of 
God and endeavor to explain, illustrate, and enforce 



PREPARING A SERMON. 31 

its essential truth. Such a passage ought to contain 
a spiritual truth of sufficient importance to be the 
basis of a serruon, and not in itself or its relations so 
obvious as to need no discussion. However, a most 
obvious truth furnishes the best text for a revival 
sermon or one that is intended to be chiefly horta- 
tory in its character. A pastor, however, should 
avoid the hortatory style of preaching except on re- 
vival occasions or on occasions when his people are 
to be urged to take some important step. This cau- 
tion is not intended to discourage earnest exhorta- 
tions (for every true sermon should have more or 
less of this), but to insist that a man's sermons must 
not be all exhortations. He should always do some- 
thing more than enforce the obvious truths of his 
text. If he tells people concerning his text no more 
than they knew before, they will starve under his 
feeding. Textual preaching should constitute the 
great body of the pulpit work of the majority of min- 
isters. 

3. Expository Preaching. 

This consists in taking a more or less extended 
passage of scripture as a text, which the preacher 
endeavors to expound to his congregation. In the 
hands of a master nothing can be made so interesting 
and instructive as this. Here the best specimens of 
work give us a clear and short exegesis of each 
phrase and an application of the truth to the circum- 
stances of the audience. It is a string of sermon- 
ettes combined into a sermon. It should be used 
habitually only by a man who is terse and epigram- 
matic in his style. A man of diffuse style will worry 
his audience to death. 



32 THE itinerant's guide. 

4. Historical Preaching. 

This consists in taking up an incident in the Bible 
or some life found therein and presenting it to the 
congregation, drawing such lessons therefrom as 
may be contained in it or may be deemed applicable 
to a given place and people. Some of the most inter- 
esting sermons your lecturer ever heard were of this 
character. 



CHAPTER V. 

The Development of a Sermon. 

AFTER the selection of the text comes the prep- 
aration of the sermon upon it. This is not to 
make a speech with the text as an ornamental motto. 
A sermon is a discourse in which some truth of rev- 
elation is elaborated and illustrated for the enlight- 
enment of the people, and applied to their own lives. 
Just the plan on which that sermon may be made 
must be left to individual choice. One plan suits 
one man, and a totally different one is best for an- 
other. The following rnay be given as merely a gen- 
eral outline: 

1. A clear exegesis of the text. When the mean- 
ing is perfectly plain, this should be omitted. 

2. Give such arguments, illustrations, and expla- 
nations as are necessary to prove and enforce the 
truth in hand. 

3. Apply the principles and truths which you have 
now established to the lives of the congregation. 
To put it all into one sentence, we may say: A ser- 
mon should consist of exegesis, argument, and ap- 
plication. 

Now where are we to get these to put into the ser- 
mons? If God has called a man to preach, he has 
evidently intended to use that man's abilities to for- 
ward his cause. Hence a preacher is not called to 
be a mere echo of other men's thoughts; he should 
do his ow f n thinking. In procuring material for his 
3 (33) 



34: THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

sermons, however, he should carefully study the Bi- 
ble, theological works, and devotional books, digest- 
ing and assimilating all, but avoiding all homiletic 
literature. 

1. Exegesis. 

As to the exegesis, a man should study the word 
of God reverently and prayerfully, looking for the 
hidden meaning of the spirit. When he has selected 
a passage for a text, he should meditate on it until 
he feels sure he sees clearly its full purport. Then 
let him make a careful study of the context until he 
understands that. Now, for the first time, let him 
go to a commentary and consult it in reference to 
both text and context. If he finds that good author- 
ities take a different conception of these from his 
own, it will perhaps be better to lay this subject 
aside for the present and take up another. If his 
views are not condemned by the authorities, or if, 
after mature reflection, he be convinced of their 
truth in spite of the authorities, then let him try to 
state these views so that they will be clear to others. 

2. The Argument. 

Now he is ready for his argument. He should 
freely consult the Bible for parallel presentations of 
the same truth; and if any of them throw light on 
the subject, he should give it to the congregation. 
If there is any principle of science or of philosophy 
which upholds this truth, it should be studied and 
mastered and presented. Get the relation between 
such scientific and philosophic truth and that of rev- 
elation perfectly clear in the mind. For illustra- 
tions there is nothing better than some character in 
the Bible whose life, or some incident in his life, em- 



THE DEVELOPMENT OE A SERMON. 35 

bodies the principle in point. Next to this is the lit- 
erature of Christian biography, and then Church his- 
tory, general history, and even poetic and fictitious 
characters. Here also we have use for all our own 
experiences and observations, though it takes some 
tact to use these stories in a skillful manner. The 
whole realm of science and literature is at our 
disposal for use in these figures and illustrations. 
However, we must be sure that our illustrations real- 
ly illustrate. They must throw light on the subject, 
and they must not be introduced merely for purposes 
of ornamentation. Such meretricious ornaments 
are, without exception, rhetorical blunders; and, in a 
preacher, if they grow out of vanity and a desire of 
personal display, they may become sins. Neither 
our arguments nor illustrations should be habitually 
borrowed. I am not speaking of plagiarism, but of 
a mischievous dependence upon the thinking of oth- 
ers. All these books of skeleton sermons and of 
stock illustrations are a curse to our young preach- 
ers, and should be avoided. To become dependent 
upon them is to become an intellectual pauper. The 
temptation to use an apt illustration which we have 
heard from some one else is great, and may be occa- 
sionally indulged without hurt; but that want of im- 
agination which keeps a man from seeing illustra- 
tions of truth all about him will generally make him 
awkward in using one made ready to his hands. 
This gift of illustration should be developed, but the 
way to do this is to ignore the ready-made ones en- 
tirely and think them out for ourselves. The man 
with a redundant imagination can, without harm, 
use anything he hears or reads of this kind; but one 



36 the itinerant's guide. 

who is defective in this line, or only moderately fruit- 
ful, should avoid second-hand figures of speech and 
illustrations entirely. 

3. The Application. 

The bringing these truths, which ought now to be 
clearly grasped by the congregation, home to their 
own consciences is the test of the true preacher. All 
that has gone before should be adapted to this end. 
The application should not be merely a little exhor- 
tation attached to the end of the sermon, but should 
grow out of the sermon and be a part of it. There is 
nothing more foreign to the real purpose of a sermon 
than a dry theological treatment of some theme in 
the abstract. For instance, a man who presents the 
subject of repentance in a sermon, and is simply in- 
terested in the abstract relation of this grace to the 
philosophy of salvation, and shows in the very meth- 
od of treating it that the idea of inducing men to re- 
pent now is not in all his thoughts, may be a great 
thinker, but he is no preacher. I do not join the pop- 
ular outcry against theology in the pulpit Far 
from it. I believe in the strong, clear, thorough 
presentation of great themes ; but I contend that the 
whole object of such treatment is to bring to bear 
these great forces upon the consciences of men. 

" In preparing a sermon, should I write it out?" 
is a question being constantly put by young preach- 
ers. Nor can it be answered categorically. As a 
means of self-development of the power to sermon- 
ize, nothing can take the place of writing out the ser- 
mon completely. As such an exercise a young 
preacher should force himself to write at least one 
sermon a month. If he will deliver two or three 



THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SEEMON. 37 

times more sermons than he has written, he will 
avoid becoming a slave to this method of prepara- 
tion, and at the same time get the full benefit of the 
discipline. In such writing he should be a remorse- 
less critic of his own work; and after finishing it as a 
composition, he should use the pruning knife with- 
out scruple. Hunt for and cut out the pretty pas- 
sages especially, and redundances; make the sermon 
as near perfect as possible, and never be satisfied too 
easily with it. The Germans have an excellent prov- 
erb : " The good is the w T orst enemy of the best." 

Now when such a sermon is made, what shall be 
done with it? It is better not to attempt to deliver 
it memoritcr, but simply preach upon the theme, de- 
pending upon yourself to clothe thought in proper 
words at the time. If without effort the words of 
the manuscript come to you, use them without hes- 
itation ; but do not wait to recall them. By no means 
carry the sermon in the pulpit with you, or, except 
on very special occasions, read it. The prejudice 
against reading sermons from the pulpit is founded 
in truth, and a Methodist preacher will disparage 
himself and his work if he gets in the habit of read- 
ing his sermons. 

The question comes up as to what to do with a ser- 
mon after it has been prepared and delivered. This 
is a very different question among itinerant minis- 
ters from what it is among settled pastors. There 
is no reason why a Methodist preacher should not 
carry to his new wo>rk all the results of his past 
thinking, including his old sermons, whether they 
be written in full, preserved by notes, or held in a 
tenacious memory; nor is there any reason that he 



38 THE ITINEEANT 9 S GUIDE* 

should not preach over one of these old sermons on 
any occasion when his judgment suggests that it is 
the thing needed. However, he should see to it that 
at least half of his sermons are entirely new. This 
keeps his powers of invention from going to sleep. 
Then, whenever he preaches an old sermon, he 
should endeavor to improve on it. Drop out excres- 
cences, develop points that prove interesting and in- 
structive, see to it that it grows with each delivery. 
It was in this way that our Methodist fathers be- 
came such powerful and famous preachers. Again, 
a preacher should be sure that he does not re-use a 
sermon which proved dull and unprofitable. The 
" survival of the fittest " should be allowed as a law 
to work to perfection here. Only the best should be 
preserved; and all that is common, heavy, or in any 
way inefficient should be allowed to die as quietly 
and quickly as possible. 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Delivery of a Sermon. 

IF a man has something to say in which he is pro- 
foundly interested, there is seldom much diffi- 
culty in saying it effectively; but a man is so liable in 
the presence of an audience to become self-conscious 
and awkward, that if he does not watch himself 
closely he will form habits while he is young that 
will mar his effectiveness as a public speaker all of 
his life. He should avoid forming any habits, good 
or bad; for habits, at the best, confine and restrict 
within given limits, whereas the public speaker 
should be free as the birds of the air. 

The first great necessity of the public speaker, ei- 
ther as to voice or gesture, is sound health and per- 
fect mastery of his muscular and nervous system, so 
that without volition these spontaneously obey his 
slightest wish. For perfect physical and vocal cul- 
ture I must direct the reader to competent special- 
ists in these lines. However, put yourself in charge 
of no elocutionist who is not the master of his work. 
The quack will do lasting harm, and no good. I may 
say, however, that the first thing of real importance 
is deep breathing; and the following directions for 
private exercises in vocal culture from William Rus- 
sell will, I think, be found beneficial: 

1. Place yourself in a perfectly erect but easy posture ; the 
weight of the body resting on one foot; the feet at a moderate 
distance, the one in advance of the other; the arms akimbo; 
the fingers pressing on the abdominal muscles, in front, and 

(39) 



40 THE ITINEEANT'S GUIDE. 

the thumbs on the dorsal muscles, on each side of the spine ; 
the chest freely expanded and fully projected; the shoulders 
held backward and downward, the head perfectly vertical. 

2. Having thus complied with the preliminary conditions of 
a free and unembarrassed action of the organs, draw in and 
give out the breath very fully and very slowly about a dozen 
times in succession. Let the breathing be deep and tranquil, 
but such as to cause the chest to rise fully and fall freely at 
every effort. 

3. Draw in a very full breath, and send it forth in a pro- 
longed sound of the letter h. In the act of inspiration take in 
as much breath as you can contain. In the act of expiration 
retain all you can and give out as little as you can, merely suf- 
ficient to keep the sound of h audible. But keep it going on as 
long as you can sustain it. In this style of respiration the 
breath merely effuses itself into the surrounding air. 

4. Draw in a very fall breath, as before, and emit it with a 
lively expulsive force in the sound of h but little prolonged— in 
the style of a moderate whispered cough. The breath in this 
style of expiration is projected into the air. Repeat this exer- 
cise as directed in the statement preceding. 

5. Draw in the breath as already directed, and emit it with a 
sudden and violent explosion in a very brief sound of the letter 
h — in the style of an abrupt and forcible, but whispered, cough. 
The breath is, in this mode of expiration, thrown out with ab- 
rupt violence. Repeat this exercise as before directed. 

One of the best things I know for practical direction so far 
as the voice is concerned is found in Mr. Spurgeon's "Lectures 
to My Students," commencing on page 189: 

"Observe carefully the rule to vary the force of your voice. 
The old rule was to begin very softly, gradually rise higher, and 
bring out your loudest notes at the end. Let all such regula- 
tions be blown to pieces at the canon's mouth ; they are imper- 
tinent and misleading. Speak softly or loudly, as the emotion 
of the moment may suggest, and observe no artificial or fanci- 
ful rules. Artificial rules are an utter abomination. As M. de 
Cormorin satirically puts it: 'Be impassioned, thunder, rage, 
weep, up to the fifth word of the third sentence of the tenth 
paragraph of the tenth leaf. How easy that would be ! Above 
all, how very natural ! ' 



THE DELIYEKY OF A SERMON. 41 

"In imitation of a popular preacher, to whom it was una- 
voidable, a certain minister was accustomed, in the commence- 
ment of his sermon, to speak in so low a key that no one could 
possibly hear him. Everybody leaned forward, fearing some- 
thing good was being lost in the air, but their straining was in 
vain; a hollow mutter was all that could be discerned. If the 
brother could not have spoken out, none should have blamed 
him ; but it was a most absurd thing to do this when in a short 
time he proved the power of his lungs by filling the whole 
structure with sonorous sentences. If the first half of his dis- 
course was of no importance, why not omit it? and if of any 
value at all, why not deliver it distinctly? Effect, gentlemen; 
that was the point aimed at. He knew that one who spake in 
that fashion had produced great effects, and he hoped to rival 
him. If any of you dare to commit such a folly for such a de- 
testable object, I heartily wish ycu had never entered this in- 
stitution. I tell you most seriously that the thing called ' ef- 
fect' is hateful, because it is untrue, artificial, tricky, and there- 
fore despicable. Never do anything for effect, but scorn the 
stratagems of little minds, hunting after the approval of con- 
noisseurs in preaching, who are a race as obnoxious to a true 
preacher as locusts to the Eastern husbandman. But I digress. 
Be clear and distinct at the very first. Your exordia are too 
good to be whispered to space. Speak them out boldly, and 
command attention at the very outset by your many tones. Do 
not start at the highest pitch as a rule, for then you will not be 
able to rise when you warm with your work ; but still be out- 
spoken at the outset. Lower the voice when suitable, even to a 
whisper, for soft, delicate, solemn utterances are not only a re- 
lief to the ear, but have a great aptitude to reach the heart. 
Do not be afraid of the low keys, for if you throw force into 
them, they are as well heard as the shouts. You need not 
speak in a loud voice to be heard well. Macaulay says of 
William Pitt : ' His voice, even when it sank to a whisper, was 
heard to the remotest benches of the House of Commons.' It 
has been well said that the most noisy gun is not the one which 
carries the ball the farthest. The crack of a rifle is anything 
but noisy. It is not the loudness of your voice, it is the force 
which you put into it, that is effective. I am certain I could 
whisper so as to be heard throughout every corner of our great 



42 the itinerant's guidi!. 

Tabernacle, and I am equally certain that I could halloo and 
shout so that nobody could understand me. The thing could 
be done here, but perhaps the example is needless, as I fear 
some of you perform the business with remarkable success. 

" Waves of air may dash upon the ear in such rapid succession 
that they create no translatable impression upon the auditory 
nerve. Ink is necessary to write with, but if you upset the ink 
bottle over the sheet of paper, you convey no meaning thereby. 
So it is with sound. Sound is the ink; but management is 
needed, not quantity, to produce an intelligible writing upon 
the ear. If your sole ambition be to compete with 

Stentor the strong, indued with brazen lungs, 
Whose throat surpassed the force of fifty tongues, 

then bawl yourself into Elysium as rapidly as possible ; but if 
you wish to be understood, and so to be of service, shun the 
reproach of being ' impotent and loud.' You are aware that 
shrill sounds travel the farthest. The singular cry which is 
used by the travelers in the wilds of Australia owes its remark" 
able power to its shrillness. A bell will be heard much farther 
off than a drum ; and, very singularly, the more musical a sound 
is, the farther it travels. It is not the thumping of the piano 
that is needed, but the judicious sounding of the best keys. You 
will therefore feel at liberty to ease the strain very frequently in 
the direction of loudness, and you will be greatly relieving both 
the ears of the audience and your own lungs. Try all methods, 
from the sledge hammer to the paff ball. Be as gentle as a 
zephyr and as furious as a tornado. Be, indeed, just what 
every sensible person is in his speech when he talks naturally, 
pleads vehemently, whispers confidently, appeals plaintively, 
or publishes distinctly. 

" Next to the moderation of lung force I should place the 
rule, ' Modulate your tones.' Alter the key frequently and vary 
the strain constantly. Let the bass, the treble, and the tenor 
take their turn. I beseech you to do this out of pity to your- 
self and to those who hear you. God has mercy upon us, and 
arranges all things to meet our cravings for variety. Let us 
have mercy upon our fellow-creatures, and not persecute them 
with the tedium of sameness. It is a most barbarous thing to 
inflict upon the tympanum of a poor fellow-creature's ear the 
anguish of being bored and gimleted with the same sound for 



THE DELIVERY OF A SEKMON. 43 

half an hour. What swifter mode of rendering the mind idi- 
otic or lunatic could be perceived than the perpetual droning 
of a beetle, or buzzing of a blue-fly, in the organ of hearing? 
What dispensation have you by which you are to be tolerated 
in such cruelty to the helpless victims who sit under your 
drum-drum ministrations? Kind nature frequently spares the 
drone's unhappy victims the full effect of his tortures by steep- 
ing them in sweet repose. This, however, you do not desire; 
then speak with varied voice. How few ministers remember 
that monotony causes sleep! I fear the charge brought by a 
writer in the Imperial Review is true to the letter of numbers of 
my brethren. 'We all know how the noise of running water, 
or the murmur of the sea, or the sighing of the south wind 
among the pines, or the moaning of wood doves, induces a de- 
licious dreamy languor. Far be it from us to say that the voice 
of a modern divine resembles, in the slightest degree, any of 
these sweet sounds, yet the effect is the same, and few can re- 
sist the drowsy influences of a lengthy dissertation delivered 
without the slightest variation of tone or alteration of expres- 
sion. Indeed, the very exceptional use of the phrase, 'an 
awakening discourse/ even by those most familiar with such 
matters, conveys the implication that the great majority of pul- 
pit harangues are of a decidedly soporific tendency. It is an 
ill case when the preacher 

Leaves his hearers perplexed 

Twixt the two to determine: 
1 Watch and pray,' says the text; 

8 Go to sleep,' says the sermon. 

" However musical your voice may be in itself, if you con- 
tinue to sound the same chord perpetually, your hearers will 
perceive that its notes are by distance made more sweet. Do, 
in the name of humanity, cease intoning and take to rational 
speaking. Should this argument fail to move you, I am so 
earnest about this point that if you will not follow my advice 
out of mercy to your hearers, yet do it out of mercy to yourself; 
for as God, in his infinite wisdom, has been pleased always to 
append a penalty to every sinner against his natural as well as 
moral laws, so the evil of monotony is frequently avenged by 
that dangerous disease called c dysphonio clericorum, 9 or clergy- 
man's sore throat. When certain of our brethren are so be- 



44 THE itinerant's guide. 

loved by their hearers that they do not object to pay a hand- 
some sum to get rid of them for a few months, when a journey 
to Jerusalem is recommended and provided for, bronchitis of 
a modified order is so remarkably overruled for good that my 
present argument will disturb their equanimity; but such is not 
our lot. To us bronchitis means real misery, and therefore to 
avoid it we follow any sensible suggestion. If you wish to ruin 
your throats, you can speedily do so; but if you preserve them, 
note what is now laid before you. 

" I have often compared the voice to a drum. If the drummer 
should always strike in one place on the head of his drum, the 
skin would soon wear into a hole; but how much longer it 
would have lasted him if he had varied his thumping and had 
used the entire surface of the drumhead! So it is with a man's 
voice. If he uses always the same tone, he will wear a hole in 
that part of the throat which is most exercised in producing 
that monotony, and very soon he will suffer from bronchitis. 
I have heard surgeons affirm that Dissenting bronchitis differs 
from the Church-of-England's article. There is an ecclesiasti- 
cal twang which is much admired in the establishment, a sort 
of steeple-in-the-throat grandeur, an aristocratic, theologic, par- 
sonic, supernatural infra-mouthing of language and rolling of 
words. It may be illustrated by the following specimen: 'He 
that hath yaws to yaw let him yaw ' ; which is a remarkable, if 
not impressive, rendering of a Scripture text. Who does not 
know the hallowed way of pronouncing ' Dearly beloved breth- 
ren, the Scripture moveth us in divers places ' ? It rolls in my 
ears now like Big Ben, coupled with boyish memories of mo- 
notonous peals of ' Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and 
all the royal family. . . . Amen.' Now if a man who talks 
so unnaturally does not get bronchitis, or some other disease, I 
can only say that throat disease must be very sovereignly dis- 
pensed. At the Nonconformist hobbies of utterances I have 
already struck a blow, and I believe that it is by them that 
larynx and lungs become delicate, and good men succumb to 
silence and the grave. Should you desire my authority for the 
threat which I have held out to you, I shall give you the opin- 
ion of Mr. Macready, the eminent tragedian, who, since he looks 
at the matter from an impartial but experimental standpoint, 
is worthy of a respectful hearing: 'Kelaxed throat is usually 



THE DELIVERY OF A SERMON. 45 

caused not so much by using the organ as by the kind of exer- 
cise — that is, not so much by loud or long speaking as by speak- 
ing in a feigned voice. I am not sure that I shall be under- 
stood in this statement, but there is not one person in, I may 
say, ten thousand who, in addressing a body of people, does so 
in his natural voice ; and this habit is most especially observa- 
ble in the pulpit. I believe that relaxation of the throat re- 
sults from violent efforts in these affected tones, and that severe 
irritation, and often ulceration, is the consequence. The labor 
of a whole day's duty in a church is nothing, in point of labor, 
compared vvdth the performance of one of Shakespeare's lead- 
ing characters, nor, I suppose, with any of the very great dis- 
plays made by our leading statesmen in the Houses of Parlia- 
ment ; and I feel very certain that the disorder which you des- 
ignate as "clergyman's sore throat" is attributable generally to 
the mode of speaking, and not to the length of time or violence 
of effort that may be employed. I have known several former 
contemporaries on the stage to suffer from sore throat, but I do 
not think, among those eminent in their art, that it could be 
regarded as a prevalent disease/ 

"Actors and barristers have much occasion to strain their vo- 
cal powers, and yet there is no such thing as a counsel's sore 
throat, or tragedian's bronchitis, simply because these men dare 
not serve the public in so slovenly a manner as some preachers 
serve their God. Samuel Fenwick, Esq., M.D., in a popular 
treatise upon * Diseases of the Throat and Lungs,' has most 
wisely said: 'From what was stated respecting the physiology 
of the vocal chords, it will be evident that continued speaking 
in one tone is much more fatiguing than frequent alterations in. 
the pitch of the voice, because by the former one muscle or set 
of muscles are strained, while by the latter different muscles are 
brought into action, and thus relieve one another. In the same 
way a man raising his arm at right angles to his body becomes 
fatigued in five or ten minutes, because only one set of muscles 
has to bear the weight; but these same muscles can work the 
whole day if their action is alternated with the others. Whenev- 
er, therefore, we hear a clergyman droning through the Church 
service, and in the same manner and tone of voice reading, pray- 
ing, and exhorting, we may be perfectly sure he is giving ten 
times more labor to his vocal chords than is absolutely necessary. 



46 THE itinerant's guide. 

" This may be the place to reiterate an opinion which I have 
often expressed in this place, of y/hich I am reminded by the 
author I have quoted, If ministers would speak oftener, their 
throats and lungs would be less liable to disease. Of this I am 
quite sure. It is a matter of personal experience and wide ob- 
servation, and I am confident that I am not mistaken. Gentle- 
men, twice-a-week preaching is very dangerous; but I have 
found five or six times healthy, and even twelve or fourteen 
not excessive. A costermonger set to cry cauliflowers and po- 
tatoes one day in the week would find the effort most laborious, 
but when he for six successive days fills streets and lanes and 
alleys with his sonorous din, he finds no dysphonia pomo.riorum, 
or ' costermonger's sore throat,' laying him aside from his hum- 
ble toils. I was pleased to find my opinion, that infrequent 
preaching is the root of many diseases, thus plainly declared by 
Dr. Fenwick: 'Ail the directions which have been laid down 
will, I believe, be ineffectual without regular daily practice of 
the voice. Nothing seems to have such a tendency to produce 
this disease as the occasional prolonged speaking, alternating 
with long intervals of rest, to which clergymen are particularly 
subject. Anyone giving the subject a moment's consideration 
will readily understand this. If a man, or any other animal, 
be intended for any unusual muscular exertion, he is regularly 
exercised in it day by day, and labor is thus rendered easy 
which otherwise it would be almost impossible to execute. 
But the generality of the clerical profession undergo a great 
amount of muscular exertion in the way of speaking only on 
one day of the week, whilst in the remaining six days they 
scarcely ever raise their voice above the usual pitch. Were a 
smith or a carpenter thus occasionally to undergo the fatigue 
connected with the exercise of his trade, he would not only be 
unfitted for it, but would lose the skill he had acquired. The 
example of the most celebrated orators the world has seen 
proves the advantages of regular and constant practice of speak- 
ing, and I would on this account most strongly recommend all 
persons subject to this complaint to read aloud once or twice a 
day, using the same pitch of voice as in the pulpit, and paying 
especial attention to the position of the chest and throat, and 
to clear and proper articulation of words.' 

" Mr. Beecher is of the same opinion, for he remarks : ' News- 



THE DELIVERY OF A SERMON. 47 

boys show what out-of-door practice will do for a man's lungs. 
What would the pale and feeble-speaking minister do, who can 
scarcely make his voice reach two hundred auditors, if he were 
set to cry papers? Those New York newsboys stand at the 
head of a street and send down their voices through it as an 
athletic would roll a ball down an alley. We advise men train- 
ing for speaking professions to peddle wares in the streets for a 
little time. Young ministers might go into partnership with 
newsboys for a while till they got their mouths open and their 
larynx nerved and toughened.' 

" Gentlemen, a needful rule : always suit your voice to your 
matter. Do not be jubilant over a doleful subject; and, on the 
other hand, do not drag heavily where the tones ought to trip 
along merrily, as though they were dancing to the tune of an- 
gels in heaven. This rule I shall not enlarge upon, but rest as- 
sured it is of the utmost importance, and if obediently followed 
will always secure attention, provided your matter is worth it. 
Suit your voice to your matter always, and above all, in every- 
thing be natural. Away forever with slavish attention to 
rules and models. Do not imitate other people's voices ; or, if 
from an unconquerable propensity you must follow them, emu- 
late every orator's excellences, and the evil will be lessened. I 
am myself, by a kind and irresistible influence, drawn to be an 
imitator, so that a journey to Scotland or Wales will for a week 
or two materially affect my pronunciation and tone. Strive 
against it I do, but there it is, and the only cure I know of is to 
let the mischief die a natural death. Gentlemen, I return to 
my rule. Use your own natural voices. Do not be monkeys, 
but men ; not parrots, but men of originality in all things. It 
is said that the most becoming way for a man to wear his beard 
is that in which it grows, for both in color and in form it will 
suit his face. Your own modes of speech will be most in har- 
mony with your methods of thought and your own personality. 
The mimic is for the playhouse; the cultured man in his sanc- 
tified personality is for the sanctuary. I would repeat this rule 
until I wearied you if I thought you would forget it. Be nat- 
ural, be natural, be natural for evermore! An affectation of 
the voice, or an imitation of the manner of Dr. Silvertongue, 
the eminent divine, or even of a well-beloved tutor or presi- 
dent, will inevitably ruin you. I charge you, throw away 



48 THE ITINEB ANT'S GUIDE. 

the servility of imitation and rise to the manliness of origi- 
nality. 

"We are bound to add: 'Endeavor to educate your voice/ 
Grudge no pains or labor in achieving this, for, as it has been 
well observed, ' however prodigious may be the gifts of nature 
to her elect, they can only be developed and brought to their 
extreme perfection by labor and study.' Think of Michael 
Angelo working for a week without taking off his clothes, and 
Handel hollowing out every key of his harpischord like a 
spoon by incessant practice. Gentlemen, after this, never talk 
of difficulty or weariness. It is almost impossible to see the 
utility of Demosthenes's method of speaking with stones in his 
mouth, but anyone can perceive the usefulness of his x>leading 
with the boisterous waves, that he might know how to com- 
mand a hearing amidst the uproarious assemblies of his coun- 
trymen; and in his speaking as he ran uphill that his lungs 
might gather force from laborious use, the reason is obvious as 
the self-denial is commendable. We are bound to use every 
possible means to perfect the voice by which we are to tell 
forth the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Take great care 
of the consonants, enunciate every one of them clearly ; they 
are the feature and expression of the words. Practice indefat- 
igably till you give every one of the consonants its due. The 
vowels have a voice of their own, and therefore they can speak 
for themselves. In all other matters exercise a rigid discipline 
until you have mastered your voice and have it in hand like a 
well-trained steed. Gentlemen with narrow chests are advised 
to use the dumb-bell every morning, or, better still, those clubs 
which the college has provided for you. You need broad 
chests, and must do your best to get them." 

In our gestures it is only necessary that we should 
follow our natural impulses, avoiding the following 
obvious faults: 

1. We should not be theatrical. Nothing so ef- 
fectively reduces the utterances of a preacher to the 
level of "sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal" as an 
idea on the part of an audience that he is acting a 
part. 



THE DELIVERY OF A SERMON. 49 

2. Avoid too great vehemence in gesture, and 
gestures that are the mere result of nervousness, 
making a sawing motion or beating the air without 
adding emphasis to our words. 

3. Avoid imitating the motions of objects which 
you attempt to describe. I have known preachers 
to go through the motion of sweeping or running or 
searching the room for articles, all of which is su- 
premely ridiculous. 

4. The eye, the countenance, and the hands only 
should be used in gesture; the head and the feet, 
rarely or never; while all motions of the body — such 
as halfway squatting or swinging from side to side 
or backward and forward — should never be per- 
mitted. This is not intended to forbid stepping from 
one side to the other of the pulpit, or moving about 
on the platform in a moderate or quiet way. In all 
addresses to the audience, be simple and natural, un- 
constrained, unaffected. Talk to the multitudes as 
you would to one man. 

4 



PART SECOND. 

Administration of a Charge. 



(51) 



CHAPTER I. 

Going to Your First Work, and Organizing It. 

HAYING learned the duties and responsibilities 
of a minister, especially those of the itineran- 
cy, and also something about how to make and deliv- 
er a sermon, we are now ready for directions as to 
the practical work you are to undertake. I will sup- 
pose you have attended Conference, seen and lis- 
tened to the bishop and other celebrities, passed 
your examination, been received on trial, and ap- 
pointed to your first work. What do you need to 
equip you for your first pastoral charge, and how 
must you conduct yourself? If you will lay aside a 
young man's feeling of self-sufficiency for a while, I 
will try to answer these questions. 

1. Equipment. 

You will need to furnish yourself for your work a 
Bible, a hymn book, Clarke's or Whedon's Commen- 
tary, and the books in the course of study at least for 
the first year. If you are on a circuit, you will need 
a good horse and saddle; if on a small station, that 
expense may be avoided. But the chief things you 
will need are trust in God and a cheerful spirit. No 
matter what your field is, if you are disappointed 
and discouraged now at the beginning, I am afraid 
you are not cut out for this work. If you feel sure 
of your call and adaptability to this itinerancy, then 
press forward, undiscouraged, and look to God to 
fulfill his promises. If vour work is hard, it gives 

(53) 



54 THE itinerant's guide. 

you all the better chance to show the stuff you are 
made of. 

2. What to Do. 

You will receive a plan of your charge from your 
predecessor, or your presiding elder will give you 
directions at what point to begin your work and the 
officials to call on. When you reach your destina- 
tion, which you should do as soon as possible, in- 
quire for the resident steward and go to his house. 
If he can entertain you for the present, so much the 
better. Make it a point to find out from him all you 
can about the work and its members, both in the 
neighborhood and elsewhere on the work. Your 
next care should be to hunt up the secretary of the 
Church Conference, and from him get the list of 
members of the church at this point. If there is no 
such officer, then hunt for the book. Never stop un- 
til you have a list of your church members — neyer. 
Then study that list; memorize the very names, and 
inquire their whereabouts. When you have filled 
your first appointment, and have made these inqui- 
ries and such visits as are practicable, go on to the 
next and repeat the process, and continue thus until 
you have completed the round. 

During this round make arrangements to call a 
stewards' meeting as soon as possible at some con- 
venient point in the circuit, to fix your salary and dis- 
tribute it to the classes. Be sure to notify each stew- 
ard of the time and place of this meeting. If your 
first Quarterly Conference comes early in the quar- 
ter, this meeting may be omitted. If you get a sal- 
ary large enough to meet your expenses, be satisfied. 
Do not worry because others get much more for 



YOUR FIRST WORK. 55 

what seems to you less work; do not think that the 
presiding elder takes too large a per cent of the col- 
lections. Whatever you may think about it, a green, 
awkward, inexperienced boy is not worth much to 
any people; but the experience you are now getting 
is worth much to you. Master your course. Dur- 
ing the long winter nights of your first and second 
quarters is the best time for you to prepare your 
course for Conference committee. By no means 
omit this. You can review again in the last quar- 
ter, but in the winter is your time to do the hard 
work. 



CHAPTER II. 

Pastoral Visiting. 

I The Preacher in the Homes. 
• One of your greatest duties is to visit people 
in their homes, and thus get acquainted with them 
and their families. Paul, in his famous valedic- 
tory to the elders of Ephesus, speaks of how he 
kept back nothing that was profitable unto them, 
but showed them and taught them publicly and from 
house to house. (Acts xx. 20.) This should be done 
regularly and systematically. The poor and ob- 
scure should be especially hunted out. In these vis- 
its to the home, when the circumstances favor, be 
sure to hold prayer. You will need common sense 
to do this, however. No sister will enjoy a long 
prayer while her bread is burning. I have heard 
and read a great deal of ridicule of the pastoral visit 
that omits anything like religious service, but I have 
known more harm done by the ill-timed service than 
by the merely social visit. The truth is, merely 
formal prayers, for the purpose of reporting so many 
prayers held in private families, are not apt to do 
overmuch good. If, however, an opportunity offers 
for religious conversation, and that conversation 
shows a heart in trouble or tempted or discouraged 
or in any way ripe for prayer, then easily and natu- 
rally, as though but a continuation of the religious 
conversation, ask them to unite with you in prayer. 
In these prayers in the home, whether regular 
prayers or those offered for the sick or those occur- 
(56) 



PASTOEAL VISITING. 57 

ring in the pastoral work, all loud or boisterous 
noises should be avoided. The voice should be no 
louder than is sufficient for all in the room to hear, 
and anything like religious excitement must find 
some other vent than by raising the voice. The 
lungs are the poorest vent for religious excitement. 

There is a great deal of nonsense taught now 
about the need of a preacher among his books rather 
than among his people. It was said long ago, and 
wisely, that " a house-going parson makes a church- 
going people." It is still true. But the chief good 
from visiting comes first from your acquaintance 
with the people. You must know the sheep to know 
how to feed them. It is much more necessary for 
you to know the trials, sins, and sorrows prevalent 
among your own people than it is to learn anything 
whatever that can be acquired in your library; and 
as for prayer and meditation, we must have some 
time for these alone, to be sure; but I know of no 
place where prayer is more likely to benefit than at 
the bedside of the sick or in the homes of the people. 
The people get acquainted with you and interested 
in you, and so you cease to become a functionary of 
the Church and become a living personality. " The 
proper study of mankind is man." Now for your 
personal work it is not so necessary for you to know 
the history of ancient Greece and Rome, or the fac- 
tions and fights of mediaeval times, or the customs 
now prevalent in Kamchatka, or what are the pecul- 
iarities of the Bedouins, as it is to know the sort of 
family that Mrs. Smith has or the peculiarities of 
Brother Jones. The part of man for you to study 
is that part for whom God has made you responsible. 



58 THE itinerant's guide. 

It gives a needed change to your studies, and espe- 
cially keeps the human susceptibilities warm and 
gentle. The best division that I can suggest of a 
preacher's time is about as follows: From 8 to 12 
a.m., in the study; from 3 to 6 p.m., at pastoral vis- 
iting; the rest of the time for miscellaneous reading, 
jobs about the house, waiting on Mrs. Pastor, etc. 

II. The Preacher in the Sick Room. 

Ministering to the sick is one of the chief duties of 
the minister. When a family is bowed down in fear 
for the life of a loved one, or overwhelmed by the sor- 
rows of death, is the very time the preacher is needed 
and the very time when he has peculiar opportuni- 
ties to attach hearts to himself and to his Master. 
I do not know that directions as to conduct in a sick 
room will do a man wanting in tact and common 
sense any good, and the man who has these does not 
need them. I will venture a few cautions, however. 
Remember, you are there as a preacher, and not as 
a doctor, and leave the management of the case en- 
tirely in the doctor's hands. Never enter a room 
when he objects. Do not be miffed or in any way 
sensitive over being refused entrance. Call regu- 
larly on the seriously sick, whether admitted or not, 
and make kindly inquiries about them. When ad- 
mitted to the sick, go cheerfully, and in a helpful 
spirit, not in gloom and solemnity. Let your pres- 
ence in the room be felt as the natural result of your 
interest in them, not as the harbinger of death. At 
the same time never be afraid nor hesitate to intro- 
duce religious topics. You will find generally a 
readier response to these than you expect. Do not 
do this in the presence of death and in a manner to 



PASTORAL VISITING. 59 

alarm the individual, but as naturally as you would 
discuss them with anybody else. When called to 
attend a funeral, be sure, if possible, on the follow- 
ing day to make a visit to the stricken home. If 
that home is poverty-stricken, obscure, socially un- 
der par, and defiantly irreligious, be all the more 
scrupulous to make this visit. It is your time to get 
in the Master's work. 

III. The Preacher in Society. 

A preacher not only has these calls which grow 
out of the nature of his office, but naturally is 
thrown more or less into general society. Let him 
see to it that in all his intercourse with the people 
he demeans himself as a gentleman. There is noth- 
ing to be more detested than the false assumption of 
dignity often shown by our preachers, the stiff and 
stilted air which they put on, as if they thought 
themselves better than other people. You can make 
no worse mistake than this. While we are to avoid 
boorishness and buffoonery, we should with equal 
effort avoid assumed dignity. Be simply yourself. 
You must always remember that you are a herald of 
the cross. You may sometimes forget that you are 
a preacher; but never, under any circumstances, do 
those about you forget it. You must be on your 
guard, and say or do nothing that will bring re- 
proach upon yourself or the cause for which you at 
all times stand. 

Every minister should cultivate the power of con- 
versing well and agreeably. Nothing will so com- 
mend you to those outsiders whom you meet as nice 
manners and a ready conversation, nor are such ef- 
forts to win the good opinion of all unworthy or im- 



60 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

proper. Remember that we are fishers of men, and 
we have a right to catch men in all proper ways. A 
preacher traveling about the world, entering the 
homes of so many people of all classes, and mixing 
so much with the public, is sure to come across many 
amusing, interesting, and instructive circumstances. 
These, introduced at proper times into his conver- 
sation, give spice and charm to it. Just here, how- 
ever, there is a great temptation to many preachers 
to grow into the habit of coloring up these incidents 
so as to make them still more charming, and so get 
gradually into the habit of exaggeration. I know 
able preachers whose influence for good has been 
greatly marred in this way. Then, again, it is a 
great mistake for a preacher to allow his conversa- 
tion to be light and frivolous. Nothing but immo- 
rality so discounts his influence for good. This cau- 
tion is not at all intended to shut out wit and humor 
of a legitimate kind. A preacher should not be a 
wise-looking, dignified, and stupid owl, nor the gay, 
chattering magpie. One of the cautions of the fa- 
thers in which there was considerable wisdom was: 
" Converse sparingly with women." 



I 



CHAPTER III. 

Kevival Meetings. 

N the summer, in our southern states, after the 
" laying by " of the crops, is the usual time for a 
revival meeting. This comes from the fact that at 
this time the farmers have leisure, and they can de- 
vote time to the meetings. It would be well for you 
to conform to their customs. In some regions these 
meetings are held in the winter and spring, which is 
better, provided the character of the work in the 
community makes it a leisure time for the mass of 
the population. "Oh," you say, "they have to get 
ready for sickness and death, and hence they had 
better take time to attend the meeting whenever it 
suits your convenience." Young man, one of the 
great faults of the ministry is a want of considera- 
tion for the rights and convenience of other people. 
Be sure not to develop that fault. It is much better 
that the convenience of the neighborhood should be 
consulted than that of one man. Of course I do not 
want you a timeserver or a mere worker for popu- 
larity; but I do want you, and I believe the Master 
wants you, considerate, kindly, and sympathetic in 
all that you do. The time for the meeting being 
mutually agreed on by pastor and people, be sure to 
make it the special object of prayer, and awaken, if 
possible, a spirit of prayer for it in the congregation. 
If you can get a neighboring pastor to help you or an 
efficient local preacher, it is well; but do not start in 

(61) 



62 THE itineeant's guide. 

depending on any help but that of the Lord and your 
own people. God and a Methodist preacher ought to 
be sufficient to hold a revival meeting at any time. If 
you are going to make a mere functionary of yourself, 
doing the collecting, visiting, etc., and hire a profes- 
sional evangelist to do your soul-saving, I hope you 
will never take a place in the Methodist itinerancy. 

When the time for the meeting arrives, commence 
your first services as if your whole purpose were to 
reach and help the church. At the close of each 
service ask for the return of backsliders, the recon- 
secration of members, or at least the promise of the 
church to help in the meeting and to pray for it. 
Make your sermons short and to the point One 
good point is better than a dozen. Let the closing 
services emphasize the special point of the sermon. 
Just as soon as you see evidences that the church is 
aroused, but not before, begin to have some expe- 
rience meetings. Now prepare to storm the citadel 
of Satan. Preach directly at sinners, not a sermon 
on s'ome favorite topic, and then close with an 
exhortation; strike at sinners from the beginning, 
and then use all your power to secure a move of 
some kind among them at the close of the sermon. 
Do not be easily discouraged. Do not depend, how- 
ever, on preaching alone. Make personal appeals 
to individuals in private, and get your members to 
do the same. Nothing can take the place of this 
hand-to-hand conflict, and it requires more courage 
and skill than the sermon. 

If ordained, of course you have no trouble In tak- 
ing all candidates into the Church and baptizing 
them; but if not, be sure to try to secure some or- 



REVIVAL MEETINGS. 63 

clained minister to receive your members and baptize 
them for you, and that during the meeting. This is 
very important. Of course you can receive parties 
into the Church who have already been bap tized, even 
if you are not ordained. In any case, take great care 
to secure the correct names of all who join and to 
have the names properly recorded in the register of 
church members. If possible, have what we call a 
protracted meeting at each appointment on the charge. 

In all these meetings do not be afraid of old Meth- 
odist usages and methods. They have stood the 
test, and have had the seal of the Holy Spirit upon 
them. No more effective method, judged by the his- 
tory of the past, has been used in the Church in the 
work of saving sinners than the " mourner's bench." 
It is in exact accord with the philosophy of man's na- 
ture. When he is aroused and his will is persuaded 
to act, it is always well to have some definite, overt 
act to suggest and urge upon him. It also makes 
the penitent the center for the prayers of all the 
devout ones in the congregation, and, therefore, 
secures the full benefit of prayer in the work of con- 
version as no other method can. Again, it is as con- 
venient as any other method in furnishing an oppor- 
tunity for those skilled in divine things to give need- 
ed instruction to those who are seeking the way. 

Do not understand me, however, to limit the grace 
of God to the mourner's bench or to any other par- 
ticular means of grace. We should avoid, above all 
things, attributing efficiency in conversion to this or 
that way of manipulating things. All that we can 
do is to urge the sinner to come to Christ. The sin- 
ner must do the coming; Christ will do the saving. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Church Services and Societies. 

THE pastor is an executive officer of the church, 
and upon his wisdom and efficiency in the man- 
agement of the church will depend the real advance- 
ment of the work. There is nothing which demands 
more skill, tact, self-control, power to organize, pa- 
tience, and strength of will than the administration 
of the affairs of a pastoral charge. Here it is that 
preachers will need to be " wise as serpents and 
harmless as doves." In all this it is necessary for 
him to remember that he must watch for souls as 
one that must give an account, and that he must not 
lord it over God's heritage. In the work of the min- 
istry Methodism furnishes to the preacher's hand a 
wonderful machinery. 

1. The Regular Religious Services, or Preaching. 

In conducting the services of the Church, the 
preacher should be devout and serious, without as- 
suming a kind of theatrical solemnity. He should 
be a worshiper, not a man acting a part. When he 
enters the pulpit, he should be neatly clothed; he 
should be orderly, reverent, respecting himself, the 
Master, and the Church. Sufficient has already 
been said on preaching and public prayer. In these 
regular services conform to the disciplinary order of 
worship. 

2. Prayer Meeting. 

A preacher should see to it that this service is a 
live, interesting, and spiritual one. Avoid monot- 
(64) 



CHURCH SERVICES AND SOCIETIES. 65 

ony, study variety, and at the same time let it al- 
ways be a prayer meeting; never let it be popular- 
ized at the sacrifice of its purely spiritual character. 
Always emphasize prayers; yet a judicious mixture 
of Bible reading, Christian experience, opportunity 
for exhortation, is advisable. The preacher should 
generally give a short lecture on some appropriate 
passage of scripture, which should be carefully se- 
lected. The loose, lengthy talks of pastors have 
killed many a prayer meeting. Be sure not to let 
this service drift into the hands of a few individuals. 
The larger the number induced to take part, the bet- 
ter. 

3. Class Meetings. 

Attendance upon class meeting has ceased to be 
made a test of membership in our Church, but no 
more profitable service is held among us. It is to be 
hoped that our preachers will not allow this and 
the love feast to die out. In these meetings the 
talking crank is the chief thing to be dreaded. The 
leader must try to have short talks, and to induce 
each to take part. Class leaders should only be ap- 
pointed when they agree actually to do the work 
that appertains to the office. 

4. The Sunday School. 

One of the most important duties of a pastor 
is the nomination of Sunday school superintend- 
ent. Upon the proper choice of this officer will 
depend the success of the Sunday school itself. 
He should be a man of sense, earnest, religious, 
and a sincere lover of children. When a super- 
intendent has been selected, then the manage- 
ment of the Sunday school should be left to him, 
5 



66 the itinerant's guide. 

While the pastor has the supreme authority in the 
Sunday school, this authority should be exercised 
but rarely, and only upon important occasions. A 
wise pastor will advise fully with the superintend- 
ent, and will give him the benefit of his suggestions 
in private; then there will never be any public con- 
flict of authority. The pastor should attend the 
Sunday school regularly whenever possible. As 
to whether he should teach a class there is great 
doubt in my mind, unless it be absolutely necessa- 
ry. Workers in this field need to be developed, and 
while the pastor does the work himself he is shut- 
ting out some one of his members from the privilege. 
On a circuit a preacher can only occasionally be 
with the Sunday school, but he should embrace ev- 
ery such opportunity. He should especially en- 
deavor to organize new Sunday schools wherever 
practicable. 

Your lecturer has found it a great advantage in 
revivals to use the regular Sunday school. He will 
let the Sunday school be held as usual, requesting 
the teachers to make a personal application of the 
lesson to their pupils, and to talk to them personally 
about their souls. Then he will take fifteen mn> 
utes of the closing exercises for revival services, giv- 
ing a brief exhortation, and opening the altar as us- 
ual for penitents. 

5. Epworth League. 

Every live pastor of the Methodist Church must 
study this young people's movement in our Church, 
and must take hold of it and direct it. In organiz- 
ing a League, be sure you have one composed of 
young people, a majority of whom should be defi- 



CHURCH SERVICES AND SOCIETIES. 67 

nitely religious. A sprinkling of older people will 
not hurt, but the young should be largely in the 
majority. Again, the religious work must be kept 
as the main feature of this society. The social and 
literary features are admirable, but the religious 
must be kept in front. The League should be a 
mighty normal training school, out of which shall 
come a noble band of Christian workers, ready to do 
the work of the Church in all fields. 

6. Ladies 9 Societies. 

There are now two of these societies recognized in 
our Discipline, and hence a regular part of church 
machinery. Every church should have a society of 
its ladies w T hose special purpose is to look after the 
parsonage, the church building, and to work among 
the poor and destitute. This society should be asso- 
ciated with the Woman's Parsonage and Home Mis- 
sion Society. If all these local societies could be 
united in this one great movement, it would be 
greatly to the advantage of all parties. Then each 
church should have a Woman's Foreign Missionary 
Society. The pastor should attend frequently, and 
should use these societies as an arm of power. He 
can tell these good women of the sick, the poor, and 
the stranger who need their attention, and he can 
learn from them those who are in immediate need of 
his pastoral oversight. 



CHAPTER V. 

Official Meetings and Chukch Finances. 

THE meetings treated of already are vital to a 
Church's life, but their work is to minister 
principally to the spiritual man. They are not di- 
rectly connected with the government of the Church 
proper. In this work of government we have a se- 
ries of Conferences, five in number — namely, Church, 
Quarterly, District, Annual, and General Confer- 
ences — each of which has some work of importance 
to discharge in the complicated machinery of Meth- 
odism. The latter three will be treated of in the 
future; for the present we speak only of the first 
two. 

1. Church Conference. 

This Conference is greatly neglected by our 
preachers, but it is one of the greatest importance in 
properly organizing a charge. Here only can all the 
church participate, and here the whole church can 
and should get information as to what is the condi- 
tion of the wo'rk in every department of church ac- 
tivity. Here the pastor tells what he is doing and 
what he proposes to do. This should be done in a 
short, written report, carefully prepared. The writ- 
er has found it an excellent plan to call on each stew- 
ard for a report, in general terms, of his work; 
upon the Sunday-school superintendent for an ac- 
count of the Sunday school; upon the president of 
the League to represent it; and so, also, from the offi- 
(68) 



OFFICIAL MEETINGS AND CHURCH FINANCES. 69 

cers of each of the ladies' societies. Then the Con* 
ference should have its own committees on the poor, 
the strangers, and the sick, and these committees 
should report at each meeting. This gives enough 
of interesting work. As each report brings up the 
subject to which it relates, it gives the needed op- 
portunity to interest the whole Church in all that is 
being done in its name and under its authority. 

2. Quarterly Conference. 

The pastor, especially on a circuit, should see to it 
that the Quarterly Conference is well advertised, 
and should endeavor to secure a large attendance. 
He should have his own reports ready, and should 
be prepared with a sensible answer for each ques- 
tion. The pastor should magnify, not minify, the 
Quarterly Conference. This is the mainspring in 
our whole Church machinery, and weakness or 
strength here is sure to be felt throughout the sys- 
tem. The Conference should never be shoved off 
into the back room of a store, a half hour before the 
presiding elder takes the train. It should be held 
in a suitable place, and time should be given for its 
work. 

3. Finances. 

One of the most important functions of the pas- 
tor's office is to attend to the finances of the Church. 
In our great connectional body each charge must 
do its part toward furnishing the means to man 
and push the affairs of the Lord's kingdom. Not to 
do so on the part of any charge is disloyal to our 
Church and the divine Head of our Church. Now 
the man to be held responsible for the claims of the 
connecti o*n on the charge is the pastor; this is nee- 



70 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

essary. If he has the tact and skill to get the work 
out of somebody else, it is well; but he cannot be al- 
lowed to shift the responsibility unless we are all 
willing to see the great enterprises of our Zion lan- 
guish and fade. We find a good per cent of the ef- 
forts of the apostle Paul devoted to taking collec- 
tions, and surely we can afford to follow in the apos- 
tle's footsteps. If the preacher is to do this work, 
then he will need to study the subject and find the 
best way to give success. If he is an individual of 
rare powers of organization, he may get his mem- 
bers or Leaguers or ladies' societies to do this work 
for him; if so, it is better for him and them, as it 
gives them something to do for the Master, and 
gives him leisure for other work. Such a man, how- 
ever, needs no direction; he will form his own plans 
for battle on the field, and in the presence of the ene- 
my. He will take care of himself and the cause com- 
mitted to him, provided only that he keeps conse- 
crated. The ordinary man, however, may learn 
something from those who have preceded him. In 
my opinion the best way to reach the people with 
these enterprises is by public collection, in which 
the purpose of each fund is explained. The pastor, 
however, should endeavor to see those privately 
whom he has not reached in this public way, and 
thus see that each one has an opportunity to do his 
part. All this work of securing subscriptions 
should not be put off until the close of the year. 
While it is not well to commence it at once in a new 
charge, for fear that many may be prejudiced 
against the preacher, still, as soon as he has shown 
the people the spirit he is of, and has convinced 



OFFICIAL MEETINGS AND CHUBCH FINANCES. 71 

them that they, and not their money, are his prime 
interest, he had better commence his campaign. Let 
him secure early in the year the whole amount in 
subscription and as much cash as he can. The cash 
should be forwarded as soon as possible — that for 
the foreign missions to the treasurer of the General 
Board, at Nashville; the other collections, to the 
treasurers of the various Conference boards. The 
preacher should take the assessments on his charge 
as the minimum of what his people should do, and 
not rest at that point unless it is the extent of their 
obligation. About a month or two before Confer- 
ence the pastor should commence active efforts him- 
self to collect all unpaid subscriptions; or if he has 
put off securing them until this time, then he should 
endeavor to collect as he goes. He should never let 
everything depend on the last Sunday, for he may 
be rained out or be sick, or his plans come to naught. 
He should never rest satisfied without his money for 
these great collections of the Church. If it takes 
going from house to house, he must go; there is sim- 
ply no excuse. As to his own salary > if a preacher 
does his work faithfully and well, it is very seldom 
that he need worry; in fact, the less he says, the bet- 
ter. His presiding elder can stir the stewards up at 
Quarterly Conference, if there is need. The preach- 
er is the mainspring, also, in almost every effort to 
build parsonages and churches, wherever there is 
need for them. That the Master's work may not 
suffer, the preacher should never rest satisfied with- 
out an honest effort to arouse the people to the point 
of providing for them. The fact is, we have two 
classes of preachers: The one provides churches 



72 THE itinebant's guide. 

and parsonages; the other destroys and wears 
them out. 

Perhaps I can make no better close to this special 
series of lectures than to urge you young preachers, 
when you are called upon to fill a parsonage, to see 
to it that the house and premises provided for by 
the Church are kept in good repair. It is small rent 
for you to pay for the parsonage to maintain it in a 
proper condition for occupancy. 



PART THIRD. 
The Execution of Discipline. 



(73) 



As this part is practically a republication of "A Book of 
Forms " it is well, perhaps, to reprint the original preface. 

Preface to "A Book of Forms." 

" Every inexperienced young preacher, who has had the un- 
pleasant duty of bringing a member to trial thrust upon him, 
has encountered difficulties which neither the Discipline nor 
the Manual of the Discipline enables him to overcome. He 
can find out what to do, but then he is troubled over how to do 
it. Even experienced lawyers are often thrown out of court on 
account of imperfect pleadings. What wonder that the preach- 
er — whose experience in Church courts, fortunately, is general- 
ly limited — sometimes errs in the same manner? This little 
book is intended to help our 'boy preachers' on whose inex- 
perienced shoulders is placed the responsibility of administer- 
ing the affairs of a circuit or station by furnishing them a Form 
Book. This book, rightly used, I think, will be a help to all 
such. 

"They must understand, however, that it simply suggests to 
them how a thing may, not must, be done. This is the way one 
Methodist preacher has concluded it best to draw up his papers 
needed in Church courts ; and many others, pastors on circuits 
and stations, presiding elders, and bishops, agree with him. 

" If you like a different form, you have as much right to your 
way as he has to his ; but you may find his suggestive, even 
then. Hoping it will find a welcome at the hands of all who 
have need of such a work, and that it may prove a benefit to 
them, I now leave it to their good graces. John E. Allen. 

" Blossom Prairie, Texas." 

To this note I wish now to add that the author of this book 
is not making law, nor interpreting it. Far more humble is the 
task he has set himself. He simply gives some suggestions for 
forms, and a slight commentary upon the law. 
(74) 



CHAPTER I. 

Maintaining Discipline in the Church. 

THE most solemn duty which rests upon the pas- 
tor is found in the execution of discipline in 
the cases of the inconsistent and sinful member. 
Xothing is needed but the natural tendency of hu- 
man nature to create a constant trend of the Church 
toward the world. To counteract this tendency is 
the business of the man called to be the shepherd of 
souls. This requires knowledge, skill, tact, sympa- 
thy, and backbone. 

Much of this work is to be done by faithful preach- 
ing. Such sermons should not be aimed at persons, 
but at sins; they should be made as impersonal as 
possible. Nor should they consist in mere denun- 
ciation or in abusive terms. The wrong course that 
is in hand should be shown to be anti-scriptural, or 
contrary to the vows of church members, <yr incon- 
sistent with a religious life. Such a sermon should 
never be preached until after careful deliberation 
and prayer; and then, a position having been taken, 
the pastor should stand firm, no matter what pres- 
sure is brought to bear by weak-kneed members. 
Stand like a rock, and continue to preach the truth 
fearlessly, impersonally, lovingly; and opposition 
will soon give way, and, better than all, your people 
will be saved from the worldly tendency. 

All sermons of the kind here alluded to should be 
carefullv prepared. It is better to write them out, 

(75) 



76 THE ITINEE ANT'S GUIDE. 

so that each word can be selected. I have warned 
against personalities; let me warn against meaning- 
less generalities. You have heard the old joke of 
the new preacher and his interview with his leading 
official anent preaching against sins. The old man 
sided up to the new pastor, just as he was about 
to go into the pulpit, and said: " Now, brother, this 
is a peculiar people, and you must be careful how 
you preach. You must not say anything against 
gambling, for old Colonel Johnson gambles and 
horse races. He doesn't belong to the Church him- 
self, but his wife does, and he pays us a hundred dol- 
lars a year for the preacher, and he won't pay a cent 
if you make him mad. Then you had better let 
dancing alone, for Sister Smith's three daughters 
dance, and we can't do without them in the choir." 
And so he went on warning the minister against say- 
ing anything against sins of all sorts, because of 
some trouble in the way, until the astonished 
preacher said: "But, my brother, what shall I 
preach against?" The reply came: "Oh, preach 
against the Mormons; they have no friends in this 
country." 

Again, the pastor must use private entreaty, re- 
buke, and remonstrance. This is hard to do wisely, 
but it should not be shirked. 

There are cases, however, that can only be met by 
expulsion, after a regular trial. Some dread such 
a course so much that they let the Church suffer 
untold injury rather than resort to it. This may be 
the easiest way, but it is not the best. I have 
known some preachers to declare that the parable 
of the tares forbids the extreme censure of expulsion 



MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH. 77 

from the Church. There can be no doubt, however, 
that we have Scripture authority for this action. 
I will give one instance of gross immorality. In 1 
Corinthians v. 1-7 we have Paul saying as follows: 
" It is reported commonly that there is fornication 
among you, and such fornication as is not so much 
as named among the Gentiles, that one should have 
his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have 
not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed 
might be taken away from among you. For I verily, 
as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged 
already, as though I were present, concerning him 
that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and 
my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction 
of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the 
day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. 
Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the 
whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, 
that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened." 
Again, in the case of disputes we have the follow- 
ing from the lips of the Lord himself: " Moreover if 
thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell 
him his fault between thee and him alone: if he 
shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But 
if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or 
two more, that in the mouth of two or three wit- 
nesses every word may be established. And if he 
shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: 
but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be 
unto thee as a heathen man and a publican." (Matt, 
xviii. 15-17.) 



78 THE itinerant's guide. 

Again, we have in Romans xvi. 17: "Now I be- 
seech you, brethren, mark them which cause divi- 
sions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye 
have learned; and avoid them." This covers here- 
sies, etc. 

We see, then, that there is abundant scripture for 
this step so essential to the maintenance of order in 
the Church. The evils of this severe discipline have 
been greatly exaggerated. If men know that their 
wickedness will meet this treatment, they will ei- 
ther alter their courses or get out of the Church; 
but the evil generally complained of grows out of the 
spirit of the prosecution, and not out of the fact. In 
many cases the pastor does not act until he has be- 
come so worked up as to enter the work in a spirit 
of antipathy to the culprit. 1 Thessialonians v. 14 
shows just how all this work should be done. 

I have found, both among preachers and members, 
a clamor to get rid of the inconsistent ones. They 
are a great trouble and a hindrance. So is a sick 
child, but we do not kill the child to get rid of the 
trouble. Our great solicitude should be to save the 
souls of men. It ought to be a day of mourning in 
Zion when she has been compelled to recognize that 
one of her children is spiritually dead. 

In the opinion of the writer, the parable of the 
tares, to which we have already alluded, does not 
forbid expulsion for a definite, overt act; but it does 
forbid the effort to get rid of those whom we have 
taken the notion are unworthy of church member- 
ship on the line of their general reputation. Let the 
Head of the Church deal with these. 

Nor should disciplinary measures be brought to 



MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE IN THE CHUECH. 79 

the point of trial when it is known that there is not 
evidence enough to convict, even when we are mor- 
ally certain of guilt. If the accused demand trial 
upon a rumor, however, it should not be refused 
him. 

In cases of guilt that cannot be legally proved, if 
the party wishes to withdraw from the Church, it 
should be permitted. Bishop McTyeire has well 
said that Church certificates should never be given 
simply to get rid of a person, but only in cases of gen- 
uine removal from one charge to another. 

Though it is hardly germane to the subject of dis- 
cipline, there is an evil in our Church in the matter 
of certificates to which I must call attention. In 
almost every station in our bounds, large and small, 
there are members living who hold their member- 
ship in contiguous circuits. The circuits and their 
pastors encourage them to continue their member- 
ship in the country, though they live in town, be- 
cause, they say, the circuits are weak and need their 
heJp, while the station does not. 

In nine cases out of ten these people lose their in- 
terest in the Church, and in many cases are lost to 
Methodism and Christianity. It is one of the most 
prolific causes of backsliding among us. Personally 
the writer knows but one family living in these con- 
ditions for a long while that gave evidence of growth 
in grace. Methodists moving to town should take 
their membership with them, and their pastors 
should encourage them to do so. 

It will be proper, I think, in this chapter to dis- 
cuss the pastor's relation to discipline and responsi- 
bility for it In doing this, little else is needed be- 



80 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

sides giving the words of the Discipline and those of 
commentators upon it, of recognized authority. 

The Discipline says (pages 62, 63) : 

"Qaes. What are the duties of a preacher who has 
the charge of a circuit, station, or mission? " 

"Ans. 2. To receive, try, and expel members, ac- 
cording to the provisions of the Discipline." 

I'Ans. 4. To see that all the ordinances and regu- 
lations of the Church be duly observed." 

Bishop McTyeire, in the Manual, says : 

" The constitution of a Church court, to determine 
the guilt or innocence of accused members, does not 
divest the pastor of great and peculiar responsibili- 
ties. With him remain those preliminary measures 
so effective in checking evil and in guiding the 
course of discipline. He is charged with the duty 
of universal oversight— of taking heed to all the 
flock. Process begins and issues under his authority. 
He constitutes committees, issues citations, presides in 
trials, determines questions of law arising therein, 
and pronounces censure upon those whom the court 
has pronounced guilty." [Italics mine.] (Manual 
of Discipline, page 82.) 

Bishop McKendree says: 

"To wait for an accuser to present a formal charge 
before he (the pastor) will act on a case of which he 
has knowledge, or is sufficiently informed, is of ruin- 
ous tendency. Surely other Christians have as 
much right to connive at the conduct of disorderly 
members as the spiritual overseer has." 

Bishop Hedding says: 

" Will it be any excuse for a minister to say others 
neglected their duty, in omitting to prefer charges? 



MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH. 81 

When charges are presented, that perhaps is the 
most orderly way; but if this be neglected by those 
who ought to do it, a minister, as w T atchman, is bound 
to see that the offender is brought before the society, or a 
select number of them, and dealt with as the laws of 
the Church direct." (Discourse on Discipline, page 
51.) 

All this puts the responsibility for the administra- 
tion of discipline upon the pastor. He starts the 
engine to moving, and his hand is on the throttle 
valve at every stage of the proceedings. 

He does not appoint the investigating committee, 
and then turn the responsibility for all further pro- 
ceedings over to them. If he does, I can assure him 
from experience that nine times out of ten that will 
be the last of the case. Hence, in my forms I have 
him to call the meeting of the investigating commit- 
tee, and to notify accused and accuser of it. This I 
have found to be effective; and, while there is no 
express law for it, the wording of the Discipline and 
Manual, as well as the analogy of other cases, all fa- 
vor it. 

In this work the Manual of the Discipline is treat- 
ed almost as a book of law. Though it is not tech- 
nically such, yet, as the deliverance of the very 
judges who will try appeals, and whose decisions 
when given in regular course are law, it is entitled 
to the highest respect. No young and inexperi- 
enced preacher — for whom these pages are especial- 
ly written — can afford to disregard the Manual. 



CHAPTEE II. 

SECTION I. 

Forms Suggested in Cases of Immorality. 

THESE cases, while they are the most serious 
with which we have to deal, are the least com- 
plicated. The Discipline (1894, page 125, Section 
V., Paragraphs 291-294) gives us, among others, the 
following directions: 

"Ques. 1. What shall be done when a member of 
the Church is accused of immorality? 

"Ans. 1. When a member of the Church is under 
report of immorality, or accused thereof in writing 
signed by a member of our Church, the preacher in 
charge shall appoint a committee of three discreet 
members of the Church, who shall investigate the 
report or accusation. If, upon investigation, they 
deem a trial necessary, they shall formulate a bill of 
charges and specifications, and shall appoint some 
member of the Church to prosecute the case. 

"Ans. 2. On the presentation of such bill of 
charges and specifications, the preacher in charge 
shall appoint a committee of not less than five nor 
more than thirteen members of the charge to which 
the accused belongs, before he shall be duly cited to 
appear, and who shall have full power to try the 
case; and if the accused be found guilty by a major- 
itv of the committee, the preacher in charge shall de- 
(82) 



FORMS IN CASES OF IMMORALITY. 83 

clare him suspended or expelled, according to the 
verdict of the committee. 

"Arts. 3. A copy of the charge and specifications 
shall be delivered to the accused a sufficient length 
of time before the trial to enable him to make all 
necessary preparations for his defense. He shall be 
allowed the right of unlimited challenge for cause 
and the right to interrogate the committeemen to as- 
certain the cause. The sufficiency of the cause shall 
be determined by the presiding officer; and the ac- 
cused shall also have the right of peremptory chal- 
lenge of two in a committee of five in like ratio in 
any other number. 

"Ans. 4. The preacher in charge shall preside at 
the trial and decide all questions of law pertaining 
to the case. He shall at the commencement of the 
trial appoint a secretary, who shall take down reg- 
ular minutes of the evidence and proceedings. The 
minutes, when read and approved, shall be signed by 
the president and secretary." 

The following forms will give a correct idea of all 
papers necessary in this class of cases: 

Form 1. 
Appointing a Member of a Committee of Investigation. 
Mr. John Smith — Dear Brother: I hereby appoint 
you one of a committee of three to investigate the 
rumors affecting the moral character of Brother 
George Culprit, and to determine if a trial is neces- 
sary. You will please meet the committee at the of- 
fice of Brother A., Roxana, Miss., Aug. 5, 1883, at 10 
a.m., and proceed to the investigation. 

E. 0. Shepherd, P. C. 



84 THE itinerant's guide. 

Form 2.* 
Notice to Accused of the Appointment of Investigating 
Committee, and Its Time and Place of Meetings. 
Mr. George Culprit — Dear Brother: It is with 
sorrow that I make the following announcement 
to you: I have heard things affecting your moral 
character which, in justice to you and the Church, I 
think best to have investigated; immediately. I wish 
you to meet your accusers and a committee of breth- 
ren in Brother A.'s office, in Roxana, Miss., on Aug. 
5, 1883, at 10 a.m., when the investigation will pro- 
ceed. Your brother, R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 
Roxana, Aug. 1, 1883. 

Form 3. 
Notice of the Same to the Accuser. 

Mr. A. B. — Dear Sir: I have learned of some 
statements which you have made (publicly), which 
affect the moral character of Brother George Cul- 
prit, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South. As his pastor, it is necessary for me to have 
this conduct investigated; and I earnestly request 
you to meet him and an investigating committee at 
Brother A.'s office, Roxana, Miss., on Aug. 5, 1883, 
at 10 a.m. Yours truly, R. C. Shepherd. 

Roxana, Aug. 1, 1883. 

Form 4. 

Report of Investigating Committee. 

case a— one charge. 

To Rev. R. C. Shepherd, Pastor of Roxana Circuit: 

We, the committee appointed to investigate the 

*An investigating committee can do its work without the 
presence of the accused, and, indeed, without notice to him, 
though the course indicated is, I think, the best. 



FORMS IN CASES OF IMMORALITY. 85 

rumors against the moral character of Brother 
George Culprit, report that we have done so prayer- 
fully and conscientiously, and that we believe a trial 
necessary. We appoint Brother A. B. Sifter pros- 
ecutor, and we present the following charge and 
specifications : 

CHARGE. 

We charge George Culprit with lying. 

Specification 1. The said George Culprit told R. 
Jones, on or about the 25th day of March, 1883, that 
John Hancock had been expelled from college, which 
statement was in said Culprit's knowledge false. 

Specification 2. The said George Culprit stated to 
Mrs. R. Jones, some time in the first part of April, 
1883, that Professor J. Johnson had said that her 
son, Tom, was stupid and worthless, which state- 
ment was within said Culprit's knowledge false. 

Whereunto we set our names this the 10th day of 
August, 1883, at Roxana, Miss. John Smith, 

Frank Jones, 
Sam Brown, 

Committee. 
case b — several charges. 

To Rev. R. C. Shepherd, P. C, Roxana Circuit: 

We, your committee, appointed to investigate the 
rumors against the moral character of Brother 
George Culprit, report that we have done so prayer- 
fully and conscientiously, and that we believe a trial 
necessary. We appoint A. B. Sifter prosecutor, and 
we present the following charges and specifications: 

CHARGE I. 

We charge George Culprit with a willful attempt 
at fraud. 



86 THE itinerant's guide. 

Specification. The said George Culprit mortgaged 
two mules and a wagon to Dr. F. B. Noble, and 
afterwards— to wit, July 10, 1883— tried to sell 
the same in Brooksville, Miss., to S. McGlasson and 
others, with intent thereby to defraud said Noble. 

CHARGE II. 

We charge George Culprit with lying. 

Specification 1. The said George Culprit denied to 
Dr. F. B. Noble that he had ever offered any prop- 
erty for sale, which statement was within said Cul- 
prit's knowledge false. 

Specification 2. The said George Culprit said to J. 
R. Jones that Dr. F. B. Noble had lied about having 
any mortgage on any property of his (Culprit's), 
which statement was within said Culprit's knowl- 
edge false. 

charge hi. 

We charge George Culprit with theft. 

Specification 1. On or about March 1, 1883, the 
said George Culprit seized upon and appropriated to 
his own use a hog belonging, as said Culprit knew, 
to Sidney Johnson, and without said Johnson's 
knowledge or consent, and with the intent to deprive 
said Johnson of the value thereof permanently. 

Specification 2. On or a-bout March 1, 1883, the 
said George Culprit seized upon and appropriated to 
his own use a cow belonging to R; Boyd, without 
said Boyd's knowledge or consent, and with the in- 
tent to deprive said Boyd of the value thereof per- 
manently. 



FORMS IN CASES OF IMMORALITY. 87 

Whereunto we set our names this the 10th day of 
August, 1883, at Roxana, Miss. John Smith, 

Frank Jones, 
Sam Brown, 

Committee. 
Form 5. 

Notice to Defendant of Time and Place of Trial (to be 

sent by hand to defendant, with a copy of the charges 

and specifications). 

Mr. George Culprit — Dear Brother: I herewith 
send a copy of the report of the committee appointed 
to investigate the rumors affecting your moral char- 
acter, containing a copy of the charges and specifica- 
tions. 

I hereby notify you that the case will be tried at 
County Line Church, Sept. 10, 1883, at 10 o'clock 
a.m. E. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Roxana, Miss., Aug. 15, 1883. 

Form 6. 
Summoning Witness. 

CASE A (MEMBER OF THE CHURCH). , 

Mr. A. B. — Dear Brother: I hereby notify you to 
be in attendance at County Line Church on Sept. 10, 
1883, at 10 o'clock a.m., to testify in the case of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, vs. George Cul- 
prit. R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Roxana, Miss., Aug. 15, 1883. 

case b (not a member of the church). 
Mr. C. D. — Dear Sir: I hereby respectfully re- 
quest you to be in attendance at County Line 
Church, Sept. 10, 1883, at 10 o'clock a.m., to testify 



88 the itinerant's guide. 

in the case of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South, vs. George Culprit. R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 
Roxana, Miss., Aug. 15, 1883. 
Form 7. 
Appointing a Member of the Committee of Trial. 
Mr. A. B. — Dear Brother: I hereby notify you that 
I have appointed you one of a committee of seven to 
try the case of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South, vs. George Culprit, said case to be tried at 
County Line Church, Sept. 10, 1883, at 10 a.m. 

R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 
Roxana, Aug. 15, 1883. 

Form 8. 

Judgment of a Church Court (see Form 4, Case B, for 

Corresponding BUT). 

We, the undersigned committee, appointed to try 
the case wherein George Culprit, a member of the 
Methddist Episcopal Church, South, at Roxana 
Church, Roxana Charge, North Mississippi Confer- 
ence, was charged with certain offenses against the 
law and discipline of said Church, after listening to 
the testimony and argument in the case, and after 
carefully considering the same, do present this as 
our verdict in said case: 

1. We find the specification under Charge 1 
proved, and that the specification sustains the 
charge. 

2. We find Specifications 1 and 2 under Charge 2 
proved, and the same sustain the charge. 

3. We find Specification 1 under Charge 3 proved, 
and Specification 2 under same disproved, but Spec- 
ification 1 sustains the charge. 



FORMS IN CASES OF IMMORALITY. 89 

We, therefore, find George Culprit guilty as 
charged in the indictment, and assess his punish- 
ment at expulsion from the Church. 

Whereunto we set our names this the 10th day of 
September, 1883, at County Line Church, Noxubee 
County, Miss. A. B. — 

CD.— 
E. F. — 
G. H.— 
I. J. — 
K. L. — 

M. N. , 

Committee. 

If the defendant is cleared, then, after the words 
"considering the same," close thus: " Do find the 
said George Culprit not guilty as charged in the in- 
dictment. Whereunto," etc. 

EXPLANATORY NOTE. 

It will be noted that in both Case A and Case B, 
in Form 4, or the form for a regular indictment, the 
immorality is named in the charge and the definite 
overt acts are set forth in the specifications. This 
is different from the prevalent form, which is some- 
thing after this style: " Charge, Immorality. Spec- 
ification 1 — Giving an instance of lying. Specifica- 
tion 2 — Giving an instance of profane swearing. 
Specification 3 — Giving an instance of Sabbath- 
breaking." In such an instance the charge is too 
broad and indefinite. It does not meet the demands 
of the Manual of the Discipline (page 103, Par. 2): 
" Every charge in a bill of indictment should involve 



90 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

an offense which, if sustained by evidence without 
mitigating circumstances, would deserve a Church 
censure." The man stands charged with immoral- 
ity, but from the charge in iiself we could not dis- 
cover the nature of the immoral act. It may be any- 
thing, from an almost venial offense to a red-handed 
murder. But it is said we find out the nature of the 
offense from the specifications. I answer that the 
specification is not the place to find the character of 
the act, but simply to find when, where, and under 
what circumstances it was committed. 

No Church court would be justified in quashing 
an indictment in the form to which I am objecting; 
for under it the facts of the case may be set before 
the jury and a verdict returned in accord therewith; 
but I maintain that the charge would be in better 
form if it contained the immediate immorality with 
which the accused is charged, whether it is false- 
hood, murder, adultery, or whatever it may be. The 
indefiniteness of the old form and the contradictions 
to which it sometimes leads may be illustrated by an 
example: An intelligent committee of itinerant 
preachers tried a preacher upon the general charge 
of immorality, with a specification setting forth 
an instance of willful falsehood. The committee 
brought in the strange verdict that the specification 
was proved, but that the specification did not sus- 
tain the charge. The verdict apparently declared 
that falsehood was not immoral. Now if the preach- 
er had been charged with willful falsehood, and then 
the specification had given the instance and the cir- 
cumstances, it would have been different. Then the 
verdict would have meant that the instance as re- 



FORMS IN CASES OF IMMORALITY. 91 

lated was proved, but that, judged fairly in view of 
all the circumstances, this instance itself was not an 
intentional falsehood — about what was intended to 
be expressed. 

Some written notice must always be given in cases 
represented by Forms 4 (A. B.), 5, 6 (A. B.), and 8. In 
all other cases it is optional with the pastor as to 
whether he gives oral or written notice to parties; 
but a written notice is decidedly better, as it is more 
in accord with the solemn work on hand. 

SECTION II. 

Forms Necessary in Taking Depositions. 

In the progress of almost any Church trial of im- 
portance the necessity for depositions is liable to 
arise. Sometimes a witness refuses to take the time 
and trouble to attend a trial. Often some lady is in 
delicate health, and cannot go out. At other times 
the offense is committed, and hence the witnesses 
live, at a distance from the church where the accused 
holds his membership, and the witnesses cannot be 
brought such a distance to the court, nor can the 
court. go to them. In all such cases it may be prac- 
tical to get the needed evidence in the form of depo- 
sitions. The Discipline of 1894 has the following- 
law upon the subject (Paragraph 295) : " .... If 
witnesses cannot be induced to attend the trial, the 
preacher in charge shall appoint some discreet mem- 
ber of the Church to take the written statements of 
witnesses, according to Paragraph 268, Discipline, 
p. 127." Of this character of evidence the Manual 
of Discipline thus speaks : 



92 the itineeant's guide. 

Depositions. 

" 1. Whenever practicable, witnesses should give 
their testimony in the presence of the court; but, in- 
asmuch as ecclesiastical judicatories have no power 
to compel their attendance, it may become necessary 
to take depositions. 

" 2. If there is ground to suppose that the attend- 
ance of an important witness cannot be had on the 
trial, it is proper for either party to apply to the 
Church court, if in session; or, if not, to the president 
thereof, who may appoint some judicious person a 
commissioner, or act as such himself, to take the 
deposition of such witness, of which commission and 
of the time and place of its meeting due notice must 
be given to the opposite party, that he may have an 
opportunity of attending. Depositions should be re- 
jected if it appear that the opposite party had not 
due notice and opportunity to be present. 

" 3. After the direct testimony of the deponent is 
written, the party applying for the commission is al- 
lowed first to examine him, and then the adverse 
party may cross-examine him, after which either 
party may propose such other interrogatories as the 
case may require. 

" 4. If any question is objected to by either party 
as being leading or irrelevant or hearsay or relating 
to matters of opinion, this should be noted under the 
question and previous to the writing of the answer. 

" 5. After the deposition is written, it should be 
read to the deponent and signed by him. A note 
should be appended, stating the reason of its being 
taken, and whether the adverse party was duly noti- 
fied and attended. 



FORMS IN CASES OF IMMORALITY. 93 

" 6. Depositions should be immediately sealed up 
by the commission, and remain sealed until opened 
before the court." (Manual, pp. 179, 180.) 

When either the prosecutor for the Church or the 
accused desires the deposition of a witness, and the 
preacher cannot himself take it, it gives rise to the 
following forms: 

Form 9. 

Application for a Special Commissioner* 

Rev. R. C. Shepherd — Dear Brother: I hereby 
notify you that the testimony of C. Norton, of Craw- 
ford, Miss., is of great importance to me in my ap- 
proaching trial, Sept. 10, 1883 ; and as he cannot at- 
tend said trial, I wish you to take his deposition or 
to appoint a commissioner to do so. 

Yours, etc., George Culprit. 

Noxubee County, Miss., Aug. 20, 1883. 

Form 10, 

Appointing Special Commissioner (limited to the case or 
cases named). 

To Whom It May Concern: 

Be it known that I have this day appointed Broth- 
er A. Brown commissioner to take the deposition of 
C Norton in the case wherein Brother George Cul- 
prit is charged with offenses against the law and dis- 
cipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 

Given under my hand at Roxana, Miss., this the 
16th day of August, 1883. R, C. Shepherd, P. C. 

* Similar form to be used by prosecutor, 



94 THE itinerant's guide. 

Form 11. 

Commissioner's Notice to Prosecutor* 

Mr. A. B. Sifter — Dear Brother: Having been ap- 
pointed commissioner to take the deposition of G. 
Norton in the case of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, South, vs. George Culprit, you are hereby 
notified that I will proceed to do so at said Norton's 
place of business, in Crawford, Miss., on Aug. 20, 
1883, at 1 p.m. A. Brown, Commissioner. 

Crawford, Miss., Aug. 15, 1883. 

When the offense has been committed and the wit- 
nesses live at a distance, if the preacher cannot go 
himself, he can appoint a commissioner to take tes- 
timony, with a general commission to take the depo- 
sitions of any one desired by the defense or prosecu- 
tion. Then the following forms may be useful : 

Form 12. 

Appointing Commissioner to take Depositions. 
To Whom It May Concern: 

Be it known that I have this day appointed Mr. A. 
B. True commissioner to take depositions when re- 
quired by prosecutor or defense in the case wherein 
Brother George Culprit is charged with offense 
against the law and discipline of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, South. 

Given under my hand at Roxana this the 15th' day 
of August, 1883. R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

* Similar notice to be sent to defendant, 



FORMS IN CASES OF IMMORALITY. 95 

Form 13. 
Commissioner's Notice to Defendant* 

Mr. George Culprit — Dear Brother: Having 
been appointed commissioner to take depositions in 
the case of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
vs. George Culprit, you are hereby notified to meet 
the witnesses for the Church in my office, at Brooks- 
ville, Miss., Aug. 30, 1883, at 3 p.m., that their depo- 
sitions may be taken as the Discipline directs; and 
you are also notified that if, as defendant, you wish 
the depositions of any parties, to have them present 
with you at the above-mentioned time and place. 

A. B. True, Commissioner. 

Brooksville, Miss., Aug. 24, 1883. 

Should the preacher himself take the deposition, 
then the following forms may be used: 

Form 14. 

Pastor's Notice to Defendant When Taking the Depo- 
sition of One or More Specified Wit7iesses. 

Mr. George Culprit — Dear Brother: You are 
hereby notified that I will take the deposition of C. 
Norton at his place of business, in Crawford, Miss., 
in the case of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South, vs. George Culprit, at 10 a.m., Aug. 20, 1883. 

R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Roxana, Aug. 15, 1883. 

* Similar notice to be sent to the prosecution. 



96 THE itinerant's guide. 

Form 15. 

Pastor's Notice to Defendant When Intending to Take 
General Depositions. 

Mr. George Culprit — Dear Brother: You are 
hereby notified to meet the witnesses for the Church 
in the case of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South, vs. George Culprit, in the office of Brother 
Charles Black, in Crawford, Miss., Aug. 30, 1883, at 
3 p.m., that their depositions may be taken as the 
law directs; and you are also notified that if, as de- 
fendant, you wish the depositions of any parties, to 
have them with you at the above-mentioned time 
and place. R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Eoxana, Miss., Aug. 24, 1883. 



CHAPTER III. 

Forms Suggested in Cases of " Improper Tempers," of Heresy, 
and of Disputes. 

WHILE the offense here is supposed to be much 
less than in cases of immorality, the procedure 
is more complicated. In these cases we first try to 
cure; and if we fail, then we cut off the diseased 
member. The Discipline (page 127) gives the fol- 
lowing directions in the first of these cases : 

"Ques. 2. What shall be done in case of improper 
tempers, words, actions, or disobedience to the order 
and discipline of the Church? 

"Arts. (Par. 296). Let private reproof be given by 
the preacher in charge or leader; and if there be an 
acknowledgment of the fault and promise of amend- 
ment, the person may be borne with; otherwise the 
preacher must take with him two or three faithful 
friends, who shall labor to bring the offender to 
proper repentance; but if he will not hear them, and 
there be no sign of amendment, the offender must be 
dealt with as in case of immorality." 

In this case, after the preliminary steps have been 
taken, the following is suggested as the form for the 
bill of indictment: 

Form 16. 

Finding of Committee in Case of Improper Tempers. 
To Rev. R. C. Shepherd, P. C, Roxana Circuit: 

We, the committee, appointed to investigate the 
rumors against the moral character of Brother 

7 (97) 



98 THE itinerant's guide, 

George Culprit, report that we have done so prayer- 
fully and conscientiously, and that we believe a trial 
necessary. We appoint Brother A. B. Sifter pros- 
ecutor, and we present the following charge and 
specification: 

CHARGE. 

We charge George Culprit with contumacious 
conduct in persisting in the practice of dancing after 
being duly warned and rebuked, as required by the 
Discipline, Par. 296. 

Specification. The said George Culprit, on or about 
Nov. 22, 1882, danced at a public ball given in the 
hotel at Macon, Miss., after which the Rev. R. C. 
Shepherd remonstrated with him, about the first of 
December, at his own house, near Roxana. On Dec. 
25, at the same hotel, he again danced, when Rev. R. 
C. Shepherd and Brothers A. and B. called on him at 
his home, Jan. 2, 1883, and remonstrated with him. 
Again, on or about the 20th day of January, 1883, in 

the same town, at the residence of Col. K , he 

publicly, in despite and contempt of the Church, 
danced. 

Whereunto we have, etc. John Smith, 

Frank Jones, 
Sam Brown, 
Committee. 

Forms 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7, in Chapter I., are the 
same, suitable changes being made, as will be need- 
ed in this case and the others of this chapter. 

In the second of these cases now under discussion 
the Discipline (p. 128, Ans. 3, Par. 297) gives this di- 
rection: 



CASES OF IMPROPER TEMPERS, ETC. 99 

" If a member of our Church endeavor to sow dis- 
sension in any of our societies by inveighing against 
either our doctrines or discipline, such person so of- 
fending shall be first reproved by the preacher in" 
charge; and if there be persistence in such practices, 
the offender shall be dealt with as in the case of im- 
morality." 

Form 17. 

Finding of Committee in Case of Heresy. 
We, the undersigned, appointed to investigate ru- 
mors in reference to Brother George Culprit, report 
that we have done so prayerfully and conscientious- 
ly, and that we believe a trial necessary. We ap- 
point Brother A. B. Sifter prosecutor, and we pre- 
sent the following charge and specifications : 

CHARGE. 

We charge Brother George Culprit with contuma- 
cy in endeavoring to sow dissension in our Church 
by inveighing against the doctrine of atonement for 
sins by the death of Christ our Saviour, and contin- 
uing in his course after being reproved by the pastor, 
as required by the Discipline, Par. 297. 

Specification 1. At Eoxana Church, on the first 
Sunday in June, 1882, the said George Culprit, in 
discussing the pastor's sermon on "Atonement," 
said, publicly: "The idea of Christ's death atoning 
for our sins is all bosh. Christ's suffering was not 
to redeem us; but he simply set us an example, by im- 
itating which we will be saved. We are saved by the 
way in which we live, not by the way in which Christ 
died." Rev. R. C. Shepherd then and there reproved 



100 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

him, and warned him of the heresy of his words; but 
the following Sabbath he argued for the same doc- 
trine in the Bible class at Sunday school, and again 
used virtually the same words. 

Specification 2. At the house of Brother John 
Smith, on or about June 20, 1882, he maintained the 
same doctrine, in equivalent words, in the presence 
of Mr. R. and others. 

.Whereunto we, etc. John Smith, 

Frank Jones, 
Sam Brown, 
Committee. 

In case of disputes, the Discipline (page 128) says: 

"Ans. 1 (Par. 298). Should any dispute occur be- 
tween two or more members of our Church concern- 
ing the payment of debts or other matters, which 
disputes cannot be settled by the parties concerned, 
the preacher in charge shall inquire into the circum- 
stances of the case, and shall recommend to the con- 
tending parties a reference to a committee of arbi- 
tration, consisting of members of our Church. One 
arbitrator shall be chosen by the plaintiff, and an- 
other chosen by the defendant, which two arbitra- 
tors shall select a third. 

"Ans. 2 (Par. 299). If one of the parties be dissat- 
isfied with the judgment given, such party may ap- 
ply to the Quarterly Conference for a second arbitra- 
tion; and if that Conference see sufficient reason, it 
shall grant a second arbitration, in which case each 
party shall choose two arbitrators, and the four ar- 
bitrators shall choose a fifth, the judgment of a ma- 
jority of whom shall be final; and if either person re- 



CASES OF IMPROPER TEMPERS, ETC. 101 

fuse to abide by the judgment, such party shall be 
dealt with as in case of immorality. 

"Arts. 3 {Par. 300). If any member of our Church 
shall refuse, in cases of debt or other disputes, to re- 
fer the matter to arbitration, when recommended by 
the preacher in charge, or shall enter into a lawsuit 
with another member before these measures are 
taken, he shall be dealt with as in case of immoral- 
ity, unless the case be of such a nature as to require 
and justify a process at law." 

Form 18. 

Report of Committee in Case Growing Out of a Dispute. 

To Rev. R. C. Shepherd, P. C, Roxana Circuit: 

We, the committee, appointed to investigate ru- 
mors against the moral character of George Culprit, 
report that we have done so prayerfully and con- 
scientiously; and we report a trial necessary. We 
appoint Brother A. B. Sifter prosecutor, and we pre- 
sent the following charge and specification: 

CHARGE. 

We charge George Culprit with contumacy in re- 
fusing to abide by the judgment of an arbitration [or 
arbitrations], conducted according to the Discipline, 
pages 156-158. 

Specification. The said Brother George Culprit, 
having a dispute with Brother S. T. Johnson, Rev. R. 
C. Shepherd suggested an arbitration, to which 
both parties agreed. The committee — A., B., and 
C. — met April 2, 1882, and made their award, to 
which said Culprit objected, and appealed to the 
Second Quarterly Conference for Roxana Circuit, 



102 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

held at Boxana, May 1, 1882; and said Conference 
granted him another arbitration. The second com- 
mittee met at Roxana, May 6, 1882, the committee 
consisting of E., F., G., H., and L., who, after hearing 
both sides, made their award; and to this judgment 
said Culprit refused and still refuses to submit. 
WhereuntO; etc. John Smith, 

Frank Jones, 
Sam Brown, 
Committee. 

EXPLANATORY NOTE. 

In all the cases treated of in this chapter I have 
charged contumacy, because it is for continuing to 
offend after the remonstrance of the Church that the 
Discipline directs that the member shall be dealt 
with as in case of immorality. The truth is, the im- 
morality is supposed to exist in stubborn disobe- 
dience rather than in the act committed. Hence, 
when such disobedience is manifested, we treat the 
offender as in case of immorality, because it has now 
become immorality. On this subject the Manual of 
the Discipline (pages 88-90) thus speaks: 

"(2) This class of offenses, whether in ministers — 
local or traveling — or in private members, does not 
come to trial by the first act. It is charitably hoped 
that these improprieties, imprudences, and neglects 
are the exceptions, and not the rule of conduct; that 
they spring from ignorance, inadvertence, or other 
infirmity, and are not the indications of fixed char- 
acter; and that they will yield to godly advice, warn- 
ing, and entreaty. If there is confession of the fault 
and amendment, the end of discipline is gained. 



CASES OF IMPROPER TEMPERS, ETC. 103 

"(3) Should a second transgression take place, the 
Church officially repeats the warning and exhorta- 
tion, but this time with increased force and formal- 
ity. The two or three faithful witnesses are calcu- 
lated, by their united representations, to carry home 
conviction of his fault to the offender, and by their 
joint influence to dissuade him from his course. 
This is their office and effect, as well as to bear tes- 
timony to his temper and behavior, should he finally 
reach the bar of the Church judicatory. It shall be 
borne in mind that these preliminary measures are 
not in order to make sure work of the trial when it 
comes — to make the indictment stick — but, if it be 
possible, to prevent a trial; and often, at this stage 
of Church labor, forbearance is repaid by the recla- 
mation of the offender. 

"(4) ' On a third offense,' as the Discipline has it, 
in case of a private member, or ' if he be not then 
cured/ in the case of a minister, there is a painful 
presumption of pride that will not be reproved and 
of contumacy or incorrigible depravity that disre- 
gards covenants and government. The offense must 
be abated or the scandal removed. A formal ar- 
raignment and trial must ensue. Even there, though 
convicted, if the offender shows a proper penitence 
and humiliation, he may be borne with and saved 
from the expulsion to which he is liable. Forgive- 
ness may be exercised and a repentant brother re- 
tained in the Church. ' But if he repent not, he 
hath no more place among us. We have delivered 
our own souls.' " 

These steps are taken to reclaim and save, and not 



104 THE ITINEBANT'S GUIDE. 

"to make the indictment stick." Nevertheless, if 
the officers of the Church neglect their duty in these 
first stages, I cannot see how they can reach the 
point of a trial at all. 

When we have exhausted these efforts to save, we 
have reached the point where we can begin our ef- 
forts to cut off. I know of an actual case where two 
brothers in the Church submitted a dispute to arbi- 
tration. One of them was dissatisfied with the judg- 
ment, and appealed to the Quarterly Conference, 
which granted another arbitration; and the five 
brethren selected, in company with the pastor, met 
on a certain day in the big road. The plaintiff and 
defendant and witnesses were all present, and each 
side stated his case; and the committee, or court, 
gave their decision. Again Brother A. refused to 
abide by it. The following conversation occurred: 

Preacher: " You say, Brother A., that you refuse 
to abide by this judgment? " 

Brother A.: " Yes, sir; I do." 

Preacher : " Then I pronounce you expelled from 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South." 

And expelled he was, without further form of law. 

This is in keeping with the opinion prevalent in 
some quarters that when the preliminary steps have 
been taken and the offender not reclaimed, he stands 
expelled, without further Church action. This idea 
probably grew out of the old phrase in the Disci- 
pline, " shall be expelled," which has been changed 
to " shall be dealt with as in case of immorality." 
The truth is, when the preliminary steps are over, 
the pastor has just ended his efforts to cure, and is 



CASES OF IMPROPER TEMPERS, ETC. 105 

just ready to take his first step looking toward a 
trial. The regular trial must be held, and the ver- 
dict " guilty " rendered, before any one can pro- 
nounce a member expelled. 

In all these cases there are two classes of facts to 
be proved: 1. The act of " imprudence/' " failure to 
perform duty," etc. 2. The remonstrances on the 
part of the proper officers of the Church. These lat- 
ter are as important to prove that contumacy or in- 
corrigible depravity which makes the party subject 
to expulsion as the former. If the pastor himself 
has done the chief part of the work in warning and 
remonstrating, then he will be the chief witness as 
to this class of facts. When this is the case, he can- 
not with propriety preside, as we see from the Man- 
ual of the Discipline (page 168) : 

" But, in the trial of a member, if the pastor is a 
principal witness against any of his flock, the pre- 
siding elder should make another -minister preacher 
in charge and president of the trial. It is not expe- 
dient that the same person should be both judge and 
witness." 

This complicates matters considerably. If a pas- 
tor had a class leader to see and remonstrate with 
the party offending, it would obviate this difficulty; 
but this is a task of so much delicacy that such a 
step should be taken very cautiously. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

Forms in Appellate Cases. 

OF the right of appeal the Discipline says: 
" In all cases of suspension or expulsion the 
accused shall have the right to appeal to the ensu- 
ing Quarterly Conference; provided, that notice is 
given to the pastor, at the time of his condemnation 
or as soon as the party is officially informed thereof, 
of the intention to appeal." (Discipline, page 130.) 

APPEAL OP A MEMBER. 

Paragraph 312. "Any member who has been sus- 
pended or expelled shall be allowed an appeal to the 
next Quarterly Conference. The appeal being made, 
the preacher in charge shall present the record of 
the trial to the Quarterly Conference, from which 
record the case shall finally be determined." 

Paragraph 313. " No member of the committee 
for trial shall vote on the appeal." 

Paragraph 314. " The appellant, either in person 
or by his representative (who shall be a member of 
the Church), shall state the grounds of his appeal, 
showing cause why he appeals; and he shall be per- 
mitted to make his defense without interruption. 
The representative of the committee, from the de- 
cision of whom the appeal is made, shall be permit- 
ted to respond in presence of the appellant, who 
shall have privilege of replying; and this shall close 
the arguments on both sides. The appellant and 
(106) 



FORMS IN APPELLATE CASES. 107 

the representative of the committee shall then with- 
draw, and the majority of the members of the Quar- 
terly Conference present shall finally determine the 
case." (Discipline, pages 134, 135.) 

The Manual (page 155) gives the following as the 
mode of procedure: 

"(1) A statement or communication from the ap- 
pellant, setting forth his appeal, and the grounds of 
it; (2) the charges and specifications and the judg- 
ment of the court below are heard; (3) deciding 
whether or not to admit the appeal; (4) if admitted, 
reading the records of the trial; (5) the appellant, by 
himself or counsel, is heard; (6) the court below, by 
its representative, replies; (7) the appellant closes; 
(8) the appellant retires, and the Conference decides 
the case." 

The following forms are suggested as giving an 
idea of the papers needed in appeal cases: 

Form 19. 
Appeal of Defendant to Quarterly Conference. 

Now comes George Culprit, by his counsel, before 
the Third Quarterly Conference of Roxana Circuit, 
Macon District, North Mississippi Conference, and 
represents as follows: 

That on the 2d of January, 1884, he (Culprit) was 
tried for immorality before a committee of five, A., 
B., C, D., and E., acting as a court of trial, with Rev. 
R. C. Shepherd presiding; and that the committee 
found a verdict of " guilty," and pronounced said 
Culprit expelled from membership in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, South, which sentence was for- 
mally pronounced by Rev. R. C. Shepherd. From 



108 THE ITINERANT'S GUIt>K 

this verdict and senten.ce said Culprit appeals to this 
Conference on the following grounds: 

1. The only specification under Charge I. is too 
general and indefinite as to time, place, and circum- 
stances. (See record of trial, page 2.) 

2. The principal witness — Mr, A. — to both of the 
specifications under Charge II. was a notoriously in- 
famous character, haying served a term in the pen- 
itentiary of Mississippi, and a number of reputable 
witnesses testifying that they would not believe him 
on oath; and the president of the court of trial erred 
in admitting his testimony, said A. not being a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. (See 
record of trial, pages 5-8.) 

3. The president of the court of trial erred in per- 
mitting the character of defendant's witness — 
Brother B. — to be impeached, and in refusing to al- 
low him to testify, said Brother B. being a member 
in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South, on Crawford Circuit, North Mississippi Con- 
ference. (See record of trial, page 10.) 

The defendant, George Culprit, further states that 
he was greatly injured and his case prejudiced by; 
these alleged errors. 

Wherefore said Culprit prays: 

1. The presiding elder, Rev. A. C. Smith, to de- 
clare the president of the court below in error in his 
decisions upon these points. 

2. He prays this Quarterly Conference to relieve 
him of this gross injustice done him by the above- 
mentioned judgment and sentence, and to reverse 
and set aside the same e Joseph Playpair, 

Counsel for Defendant. 



FORMS IN APPELLATE CASES. 109 

Form SO. 
Judgment of Quarterly Conference in Appeal Case. 

CASE A REVERSED AND DISMISSED. 

We, the undersigned, members of the Third Quar- 
terly Conference of Roxana Circuit, North Missis- 
sippi Conference, sitting at Roxana, Mississippi, 
Feb. 10, 1884, after hearing the appeal of George 
Culprit, asking that the judgment expelling said 
George Culprit from the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, South, rendered Jan. 2, 1884, by A., B., C, 
D., and E., as a committee of trial, with Rev. R. C. 
Shepherd presiding, and after examining the records 
of said trial, do believe that injustice has been done 
said George Culprit, and that the serious charges 
against him are unsustained by the evidence ad- 
duced. We, therefore, reverse and dismiss the ver- 
dict against said George Culprit. 

Whereunto we this day, etc. [Names.] 

CASE B SAME, WITH JUDGMENT AFFIRMED. 

We, the undersigned, members of the Fourth 
Quarterly Conference of Roxana Circuit, North Mis- 
sissippi Conference, sitting at Roxana, Mississippi, 
Sept. 30, 1884, after hearing the appeal of Brother 
George Culprit, asking that the judgment suspend- 
ing said George Culprit from the privileges of a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
rendered Sept. 15, 1884, by A., B., C, D., and E., as a 
committee of trial, with the Rev. R. C. Shepherd pre- 
siding, after carefully considering the grounds of 
said appeal and the records of said court, do not be- 
lieve that the grounds for said appeal are well taken 



110 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

or that any injustice has been done said George Cul- 
prit. Therefore we affirm the judgment of the 
above-mentioned court. 

Whereunto we set our names this the 30th day of 
September, 1884, at Roxana, Miss. [Names.] 

CASE C REVERSED AND REMANDED. 

We, the undersigned, members of the Fourth 
Quarterly Conference of Roxana Circuit, North Mis- 
sissippi Conference, sitting at Roxana, Mississippi, 
Sept. 30, 1884, after hearing the appeal of Brother 
George Culprit, asking that the judgment expelling 
said George Culprit from the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, South, rendered July 2, 1884, by A., B., C, 
D., and E., as a committee of trial, with Rev. R. C. 
Shepherd, P. C, presiding; and after examining the 
records of said trial carefully, and after hearing the 
decision of Rev. A. C. Smith, presiding elder of our 
district, and now president of this court — to wit, 
" The charge complained of by defendant, while not 
explicit, is not calculated to injure him. The court 
below erred, however, both in allowing the testi- 
mony of A., an infamous character, and in excluding 
that of B., a member of our Church (see Manual of 
the Discipline, page 169, Par. 15) "— we do believe 
that the above-mentioned erroneous rulings were 
calculated to have an effect injurious to the said 
George Culprit upon the minds of the committee of 
trial. We, therefore, reverse the judgment in this 
case and remand it for a new trial. 

Whereunto we set our names this the 30th day of 
September, 1884, at Roxana, Miss. [Names.] 

After a case has been remanded for a new trial, as 



FOEMS IN APPELLATE CASES. Ill 

in Form 17, Gase 0, it must commence at the very 
beginning. Here the Manual says (page 153) : 

" When the case is remanded for a new trial, it 
should proceed as though no trial had previously 
been held. There must be a new citation of the par- 
ty, hearing of witnesses, and rendering of judgment. 
New charges and specifications may be added to the 
bill of indictment, old ones may be withdrawn, and 
those conducting the second trial are expected to 
profit by the miscarriage of the first." 

From this, especially that part referring to " new 
charges," etc., I conclude that it is better to recon- 
vene the committee of investigation, or for the pas- 
tor to appoint a new one, and let them prepare a new 
bill of charges suited to the new state of the case. 

The following forms are suggested at this point : 

Form 21. 

Appointing a Committee in a Remanded Case. 

Mr. John Smith — Dear Brother: Yon are hereby 
appointed, in company with Brother Frank Jones 
and Brother Sam Brown, on the committee in the 
case of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, vs. 
George Culprit, which has been remanded by the 
Quarterly Conference for a new trial, to prepare a 
new bill of charges. You will please meet the com- 
mittee Feb. 17, at 3 p.m., at the parsonage. 

R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Roxana, Miss., Feb. 16, 1884. 
Form 22. 
Report of Committee in a Remanded Case. 
To Rev. R. C. Shepherd, P. C, Roxana Circuit : 

We, the undersigned, appointed to look into the 



112 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

facts of the case wherein Brother George Culprit, a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
at Roxana, Miss., is accused of conduct contrary to 
the laws and discipline of said Church, which was 
remanded for a new trial by the Fourth Quarterly 
Conference, report that we have done so carefully; 
and we herewith present a new bill of charges in 
said case. We appoint Brother A. B. Sifter to pros- 
ecute the said charges, which are as follows: [Then 
should come indictment in regular order, as given 
in Forms 1 (A and B), 16, 17, or 18.] 

Whereunto we, this the 17th day of February, 
1884, set our names. John Smith, 

Frank Jones, 
Sam Brown, 
Committee. 



CHAPTER V. 

Exemplifying the Foregoing Forms, and Giving Some New 

Cases. 

WE have already given the abstract forms nec- 
essary in conducting Church courts, accom- 
panying them with such explanations as seemed 
necessary. We will now endeavor to develop some 
of the more important of them in the concrete by 
tracing a case — fictitious, of course — through its va- 
rious stages. In its development some new forms 
appear, and are numbered consecutively. The 
names with which we have become familiar in our 
forms will do, I suppose, for our heroes. Then we 
will start our preacher in charge — Rev. R. C. Shep- 
herd — down the streets of Roxana on his way to the 

post office. On the way Brother meets him, 

and tells him of an ugly rumor concerning a brother 
in the Church and a mutual friend. He walks back 
from the post office with a sad heart and a mind 
troubled and perplexed. He goes into his study and 
reviews the whole case, consults his Discipline and 
Manual, and concludes that he must act; and if he 
acts at all, he determines to do so promptly. So he 
sallies forth again, and in the course of an hour has 
found three brethren to act as a committee of inves- 
tigation, has given each of them written notice of his 
appointment (Form 1), and has called them to meet 
in his study at 3 o'clock that afternoon. Again he 
goes into his study and reflects over the matter. 
8 (113) 



114 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

Then he writes two notes, calls his son Tom, and, 
giving them to him, tells him to deliver them imme- 
diately to the parties addressed. These notes are as 
follows (see Form 2) : 

Mr. George Culprit-— Dear Brother: It is with 
sorrow that I make the following announcement to 
you: I have this morning heard things affecting 
your moral character, which, in justice to you and 
the Church, I think best to have investigated imme- 
diately. I wish you to meet your accusers and a 
committee of brethren at 3 p.m., in my study; and I 
hope you will prove these things without founda- 
tion. Your brother, JR. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Eoxana, June 1, 1884. 

NOTICE TO ACCUSER (SEE FORM 3). 

Mr. A. F. Street — Dear Sir: I have this morning 
learned of some statements which you have made 
publicly that affect the moral character of Mr. 
George Culprit, a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, South. As his pastor, it is necessary 
for me to have this conduct investigated; and I ear- 
nestly request you to meet him and an investigating 
committee this afternoon, at 3 o'clock, at my study. 
Bring any witness you can, and oblige. 

B. C. Shepherd. 

Eoxana, June 1, 1884. 

After a while, Tom returns with the following 
note: 

Rev. E. C. Shepherd — Dear Sir: As I do not wish 



SOME NEW OASES. 115 

to injure Mr. Culprit's character in any way, I re- 
spectfully decline to comply with your request. 
Yours, etc., A. F. Street. 

Roxana, June 1, 1884. 

Tingling with indignation at the man who did not 
hesitate to publicly tell of the conduct of Mr. Cul- 
prit and to sneer at his pretensions to religion and 
at the Church which retained him as a member — all 
behind his back — and now shrunk from facing him 
with his accusations, he wrote and dispatched this 
note: 

Mr. A. F. Street — Dear Sir: You have already 
done Mr. Culprit all the injury in your power by 
your public statements, and it only remains now for 
you to prove these statements true or to virtually 
acknowledge their falsity. 

Yours, etc., R. C. Shepherd. 

Form 23. 
Proceedings of Investigating Committee. 
This note had the desired effect. At 3 p.m. all 
parties were assembled in the pastor's study. He 
leads them in prayer; and then, with much feeling 
displayed in the very tones of his voice, he says: 
" My friends and brothers, we have a very painful 
and solemn duty to perform this afternoon. There 
is nothing more precious to any man than his charac- 
ter, and the character of a brother is now under re- 
view. There is nothing more vitally important to 
the Church of Christ than for her to show to her 
members and to the world that she will not coun- 
tenance immorality. I have appointed Brothers 



116 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE, 

Smith, Jones, and Brown to investigate the present 
case, and we will now proceed to organize ourselves 
for business/' 

He then asks: "Whom will you have for secre- 
tary?" Mr. Brown is suggested. Mr. Shepherd 
reminds him that they will want a verbatim report 
of all testimony, as it may be needed when the case 
comes to trial, if any witness could not be there. 

Then, turning to Mr. Street, the chairman says: 
" Mr. Street, you understand that we have no judi- 
cial oaths to administer to witnesses; but the testi- 
mony they give is just as important as in a case be- 
fore a court of justice, and every witness is consid- 
ered strictly on his honor. Now we will be much 
obliged if you wall give a clear account of what has 
occurred between you and Brother Culprit." 

At this point Mr. Culprit arises and speaks : " It 
seems to me, Brother Shepherd, that I am about to 
be tried. I have received no notice until to-day, and 
I have no charges and specifications. Now I have 
had no opportunity to prepare myself, and I protest 
against further proceedings at this time." 

Mr. Shepherd replies : " This is not a trial at all, 
but a committee to look into the rumors against 
Brother Culprit and see if a trial is necessary. All 
that we are now required to do is to bring the ac- 
cused and the accuser face to face and hear their 
statements, or in some way (not necessarily this) find 
out the gravity of the charge and on what sort of 
proof it rests, and then decide if the matter is suffi- 
ciently grave to demand a regular trial." 

This is scarcely satisfactory to the committee, and 



SOME NEW CASES. 117 

a long discussion ensues. This language of the Dis- 
cipline is read, "A copy of the charge and specifica- 
tions shall be delivered to the accused a sufficient 
length of time before the trial to enable him to make 
all necessary preparations for his defense"; and, 
after Brother Smith's speech upon it, it looks as if 
all are against the pastor. Mr. Shepherd then reads 
the whole of Section V. of the Discipline, and shows 
how the committee of three prepare the charges and 
specifications, which are to be sent to the accused, 
and on which he is afterwards to be tried. Then he 
reads the Manual of the Discipline (page 111) : " 2. 
If, upon investigation, the committee judge a trial 
to be necessary, without waiting for positive and un- 
doubted evidence of guilt, they should put the case 
in the way of trial. Observe, this is a committee of 
presentment, not of trial." After this, all acquiesce 
in the pastor's position, though there is a doubtful 
look on more than one countenance.* 

Mr. Street proceeds to give his evidence, which is 
as follows: " I have known Mr. Culprit ever since I 
came to Roxana, about four years ago. For some 
time we were great friends; but about six months 
ago he met me on the road to Brooksville, when we 
had some very high words. At that time he used 

this language more than once: ' You are a — 

swindler.' Mr. Jack Scruggs was with me at the 

*I knew of an experienced and intelligent committee of 
preachers who met to investigate rumors against a travel- 
ing elder in the interim of Conference, and who demanded 
a bill of charges, and were with difficulty convinced that it 
was not necessary. 



118 THE ITINEBANT'S GUIDE. 

time. Day before yesterday he came into my house, 
and in the hearing of my wife and a servant girl — a 

negress named Sarah Jones — he said: ' you, 

I'll whip you yet.' Yesterday he came to my store 
and abused me again. I don't remember the words 
he used then, but am sure he had some oaths mixed 
up with his abuse." 

Mr. Shepherd turns to Mr. Culprit, and says: " Do 
you wish to cross-examine the witness? " 

" Yes, sir." 

" Mr. Street, did I act as surety on your note for 
five hundred dollars about two years ago? " 

" You did." 

" Was that just after your break? " 

" It was." 

" Were you not in a great financial strait at that 
time, and did not that money greatly help you? " 

"All of that is true." 

" Did you pay that note at maturity? " 

" No, sir; I was unable." 

" Did you leave me to be sued on it, and didn't I 
have to pay every cent of it, with interest and costs, 
running it up to |700? Yes or no!" [Very em- 
phatic] 

"Y-e-s." 

Culprit was excited, and the witness was pale. 
Culprit rises and glares on him, and growls out: 
" Wasn't that the mean — " 

But here the chairman interposed with : " I hope 
you will be perfectly calm, Brother Culprit, and 
bring out the facts you wish as quietly as possible." 

" Excuse me, Brother Shepherd ; you know I am 
excitable, but I will be quiet." 



SOME NEW CASES. 119 

Taking a seat, he continues: " Have you ever paid 
me a dime on that note? " 

" No, sir; I have not been able." 

" How much is your store and business worth? " 

" I refuse to say; that is my private affair." 

" Is it conducted in your own or in your wife's 
name?" 

" It is my wife's business, and I am simply her 
agent." 

" Where did your wife get fhe money to put into 
the business? " 

Chair: " Brother Culprit, I hope you will not ask 
unnecessary questions, or about things that we have 
no right to inquire into." 

" Very well, sir. Mr. Street, were our disputes 
growing out of this debt? " 

" Yes." 

" That is all I want to ask." 

Mr. Street's testimony is then read to him, and he 
signs it. 

Mr. Jack Scruggs then takes the stand, and cor- 
roborates Mr. Street as to the language used on the 
Brooksville road. He says it occurred the last of 
April, about the 28th or 29th. These are all the wit- 
nesses present. 

Brother Shepherd says: " Brother Culprit, you 
may now make a statement of your side of the case, 
if you have no witnesses to introduce." 

" I have no witnesses to-day." 

He then proceeds to make a statement too long to 
copy. He dwells upon his provocation, admits and 
defends his anger, and even abusive language, but 
denies the profane oaths charged. 



120 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

He then leaves, and the committee are left alone. 
Mr. Shepherd says: " Well, brethren, you must 
make up your verdict. The question is, Is a trial 
necessary? What have you to say to that?" All 
agreed that a trial was necessary. They then pro- 
ceeded to draw up a bill of charges and specifica- 
tions according to Form 4, Case A. 

CHARGE. 

We charge Brother George Culprit with using 
profane language. 

Specification 1. On the road between Brooksville 

and Roxana he said to Mr. Street, " you "* 

about April 28, 1882. 

Specification 2. On or about May 30 he used the 
same language to Mr. Street at his (Street's) home, 
in Roxana. 

Specification 3. On or about May 31 he repeated 
the same to Mr. Street at his store, in Roxana. 

These were embodied in a report duly signed, and 
in which A. B. Sifter was appointed to prosecute, 
and left with the pastor. 

The next day Mr. Shepherd makes a copy of this 
report and sends it to Mr. Culprit, with a notice that 
the trial will be Thursday, June 10, at the Methodist 
Church. He also selects seven suitable brethren to 
try the case, and sends them notice. He avoids 
members of the Quarterly Conference in making up 
his jury, as they may have to sit on the case provided 
it is appealed. He summons witnesses, appoints a 
commission to take the testimony of Mrs. Street, 

*The very words used must appear in the specification. 



SOME NEW CASES. 121 

who cannot be present at the trial, and gets every- 
thing in shape for the appointed day. 

That day arrives at last, and all are present at the 
appointed place. 

Form 24. 

Proceedings of Trial. 

Mr. Shepherd opens with religious services. Then 
Mr. Johnson is chosen secretary, and Mr. Briggs, a 
member of the Church, is recognized as counsel for 
defendant; and the trial is ready to proceed. 

Mr. Shepherd says : " We will now hear the in- 
dictment read." Whereupon Mr. Sifter reads the 
report of the committee of investigation, embodying 
the charge and specifications. 

Mr. Shepherd turns to the accused, and asks: 
"What do you plead?" 

Mr. Briggs answers for him: " Not guilty." 

Mr. Sifter then calls Mr. Street to the stand, and 
he testifies about as he did before. When he is 
through with his direct testimony, the Chair asks 
Mr. Briggs if he wishes to cross-examine. 

He answered in the affirmative, and asked: "Did 
you break in business about two years ago? " 

" Yes." 

" Did Mr. Culprit, after that, when you were great- 
ly pressed and on account of his friendship for you, 
indorse a note of five hundred dollars for you? " 

Mr. Sifter: " I object to the question." 

Chair: " State the grounds of your objection." 

Mr. Sifter: " I object because this is merely an in- 
quiry as to the fact, Did Brother Culprit at certain 
specified times use certain specified words? That is 



122 the itinerant's guide. 

the point. We are not trying to find why he used 
them. We, as a Church, don't believe that anything 
can excuse profanity. If Brother Culprit had plead- 
ed guilty, he might offer mitigating circumstances 
to the committee; but he has denied the fact, and we 
ought to confine ourselves to proving or disproving 
that, and not confuse our minds by running off after 
side issues." 

Mr. Briggs: " Mr. Chairman, the question is di- 
rectly pertinent; for we admit anger, even abuse, 
and we wish to explain the cause of that, so that it 
may not prejudice the committee against us. Then, 
the abuse might be mistaken for profanity. Again, 
the hook says (Manual of the Discipline, page 103^ 
Par. 2) that the committee are to take into considera- 
tion mitigating circumstances; and of course these 
must be proved before they can be considered." 

Mr. Sifter: "This is a very simple case, and we 
need not complicate it. There is no end when we let 
in outside matters, and I hope the Chair will pro- 
tect us from them." 

Chair : " I think the question foreign to the fact 
which we are investigating, and will exclude it." 

Mr. Briggs: " I except to your decision." 

Chair: " Mr. Secretary, have you written the 
question?" 

Secretary: "Yes, sir." 

Chair: " Well, write that the question was object- 
ed to by the prosecution and ruled out by the Chair, 
and that the defense excepts to the ruling. Mr. 
Briggs, proceed." 

After a few unimportant questions and answers, 



SOME NEW CASES. 123 

the witness is excused. The prosecution then offers 
in evidence the minutes of the committee of investi- 
gation containing the evidence of Mr. Jack Scruggs, 
who was not present to testify. After some wran- 
gle, it was admitted, Mr. Briggs taking exceptions. 
Mr. Briggs then offered in evidence the deposition 
of Mrs. Street, and, there being no objection, it was 
read as follows: 

Form 25. 

Deposition of Witness. 

I, A. B. True, having been duly appointed commis- 
sioner to take the testimony of Mrs. Fannie Street, 
and having notified Mr. George Culprit and Mr. A. 
B. Sifter that I would do so on the 7th of June, 1883, 
and having come to her house on the appointed day, 
where I found these parties, and also Mr. Briggs, 
representative of Mr. Culprit, proceeded to take the 
following deposition: 

Ques. 1. What is your name? 

Ans. Mrs. Fannie Street. 

Ques. 2. Do you know Mr. George Culprit? 

Ans. I do. 

Ques. 3, Did he call at your house on or about May 
30, 1883? 

Ans. He did. 

Ques. 4. Please state what occurred then. 

Ans. He came into the house and talked to Mr. 
Street about a debt which he claimed Mr. Street 
owed him. In the course of the conversation he be- 
came very angry, and finally said: " you, 

I'll whip you." 

Cross-examination by Mr. Briggs: 



124 THE itinerant's guide. 

Ques. 1. What time of the day did Mr. Culprit 
call? 

Ans. About 10 a.m. 

Ques. 2. Had your husband promised to pay him 
some money that day, and failed? 

Ans. So Mr. Culprit said at the time. 

Ques. 3. Did Mr. Street swear any during their 
talk? 

Am. Yes. 

Ques. 4. Was Mr. Street conducting any business? 

[Mr. Sifter objected to the question as irrelevant.] 

Arts. He was my agent. 

Ques. 5. What kind of business? 

[Mr. Sifter objected to this question as irrele- 
vant.] 

Arts. A dry goods store. 

Ques. 6. Where did you get the money to go into 
business? 

[Mr. Sifter objected to this question as irrele- 
vant.] 

Ans. I refuse to say. 

Ques. 7. Have you had to change your way of liv- 
ing any since your husband failed? 

[Mr. Sifter objected to this, etc.] 

Ans. Very little; we were never extravagant. 

(Signed) Fannie Street. 

A. B. True, Commissioner. 

After reading this down to Question 4, Mr. Sifter 
urged his objections to Questions 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the 
cross-examination, taking the same grounds that he 
objected to the questions to Mr. Street. After long 



SOME NEW CASES. 125 

speeches from both sides, the Chair sustained the ob- 
jection, and the defense excepted to the decision. 
The prosecution stated that he was through his case. 

Mr. Shepherd asks Mr. Briggs to introduce any 
testimony that he desired for the defense. 

He calls Mr. George Jones, who testified that he 
clerked for Mr. Street; that he was present May 30 
when Mr. Culprit abused Mr. Street; that he heard 
every word, and that he did not hear Mr. Culprit 
swear; that Mr. Street did, but he is sure Mr. Culprit 
did not. 

He then put Mrs. Culprit on the stand, who stated 
that she had lived as wife with George Culprit for 
twelve years; that she had never heard him swear 
profanely. 

Mr. Briggs then asks : " How have you been sit- 
uated financially for the past year, Mrs. Culprit? " 

Mr. Sifter: " I object to the question as an outside 
matter." 

Mr. Briggs: " It is the same point over again. Let 
the Chair decide." 

Chair: "The Chair sustains the objection." 

Mr. Briggs : " Mr. Secretary, please note my ex- 
ception to the ruling." 

Witness signed her testimony. 

Mr. Briggs offered as evidence a judgment against 
Mr. Culprit for seven hundred dollars; also the note 
of Mr. Street for five hundred dollars, indorsed by 
Mr. Culprit, upon which the judgment was based. 

Mr. Sifter objected, the Chair sustaining the ob- 
jection, and Mr. Briggs excepted to the decision. 

The defense rested their case; and, the prosecution 



126 THE itinebant's guide. 

wishing to offer no rebutting testimony, Mr. Oulprit 
was called upon to make a statement. He com- 
menced to tell about his becoming surety for Mr. 
Street, and Mr. Sifter objected. The Chair prompt- 
ly decided, without debate, that Mr. Culprit's state- 
ment was not evidence, nor must it have that weight 
with the jury; but it was a statement customary in 
our Church courts to be granted as a courtesy to the 
accused. The accused could not demand it; it was 
simply a courtesy. Hence the accused in his state- 
ments would not be bound by the strict rules of evi- 
dence. He closed thus: " Brother Culprit will 
please proceed as he may wish, keeping, we hope, as 
near to the subject as possible." 

Mr. Culprit then told of indorsing Mr. Street's 
note for five hundred dollars, of having subsequently 
been sued on it, and of finally having to pay seven 
hundred dollars six months previously on note, in- 
terest, costs, etc. Then he told of financial reverses 
which had brought his family into absolute want, 
while Mr. Street's family lived at ease. He then 
told how enraged he was with Street, acknowledged 
abusing him and using language he ought not, but 
denied the profane oaths charged. 

Mr. Sifter then spoke, summing up the law and 
the evidence, 

Mr. Briggs replied for the accused. 

Mr. Sifter closed the case for the Church. 

All parties except the pastor and committee re- 
tired, and the committee began deliberating upon 
the case. After a great deal of desultory talk, in 
which each expressed his views, they began to vote. 
The question was put: "All who believe that the 



SOME NEW CASES. 127 

first specification has been proved say ' aye/ " All 
voted " aye." The same result was obtained as to 
the second specification, but the third they decided 
was disproved. Then the question was put: "All 
who believe that the first and second specifications 
sustain the charge say i aye. ? " Again all respond 
affirmatively. Then, " What punishment?" was 
asked, and answered: "Expulsion." 

The verdict was now formally prepared and 
signed by the committee. (Form 8.) 

The doors were now opened, and the accused and 
several other parties in waiting were admitted. Mr. 
Shepherd had the verdict of the committee read. 
Then he said: " In virtue of my office, and in conse- 
quence of the verdict just read, it becomes my duty 
to pronounce Brother George Culprit expelled from 
the membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South. I do this sadly, and I sincerely pray God's 
blessing upon him." 

The Chair then sees that the secretary has proper- 
ly recorded both the decision (Form 8) and the sen- 
tence, when Mr. Briggs gives notice of appeal to the 
next Quarterly Conference, which is also recorded. 
The record is then properly signed, and they ad- 
journ. 

Form 26. 

Quarterly Conference Trying Appealed Case. 

On the 12th day of July the Third Quarterly Con- 
ference convened for Roxana Circuit. 

The Conference met at 2 p.m.; and when the ques- 
tion was asked, "Are there any appeals?" the an- 
swer was: " There is one," 



128 THE itinerant's guide. 

The presiding elder then called for the reading of 
the appeal, whereupon the following was read (see 
Form 18) : 

Now comes George Culprit to the Third Quarterly 
Conference for Roxana Circuit, and represents as 
follows: That on the 11th of June, 1884, he was tried 
for immorality by a select committee of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, South, Key. R. C. Shepherd 
presiding; and the committee found a verdict of 
guilty, and pronounced him (Culprit) expelled from 
the membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South. He further represents that this decision and 
sentence were a gross injustice to said Culprit, for 
the following reasons: 

1. The Eev. R. C. Shepherd refused to admit all 
the evidence, showing the great injustice done the 
accused, Culprit, by the principal accuser, Mr. A. H. 
Street, and the great provocation under which ac- 
cused labored, which evidence would have explained 
to the committee his anger and abuse, and would 
have at least been a mitigating circumstance. 
Hence the Chair erred in excluding it. (See pages 
3, 5, and 7 of the record of the trial.) 

2. He admitted the record of the committee of in- 
vestigation as to the evidence of Jack Scruggs, the 
same being neither a deposition nor oral testimony. 
(See page 4 of record of trial.) 

He believes that both these facts acted to his prej- 
udice; therefore he prays — 

1. The presiding elder of Macon District, North 
Mississippi Conference, to declare Rev. R. C. Shep- 
herd in error in these decisions. 

2.. That this Quarterly Conference, seeing the in- 



SOME NEW CASES. 129 

justice done this appellant, reverse the above deci- 
sion and sentence, and restore him to membership 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 

A. J. Briggs, 
Representative of George Culprit. 

The presiding elder then has read the charge and 
specifications and the judgment of the court below, 
and puts the question: " Shall the appeal be enter- 
tained? " The Conference decides to entertain the 
appeal. Then the records of the trial are read. Mr. 
Briggs makes a strong speech for the appellant. Mr. 
Sifter replies for the Church. Mr. Briggs gives his 
closing speech, and he and Mr. Culprit retire. 

The presiding elder then says : " I am called upon 
to pronounce the law upon one or two points before 
this case is turned over to the Conference for action. 
The appellant complains that injustice was done 
him, because the circumstances of the case and the 
nature of his provocation were not admitted in evi- 
dence at the trial. I believe that the chairman of the 
court below erred in refusing to allow Mr. Street and 
Mrs. Street to be cross-examined as to Mr. Street's 
indebtedness to Mr. Culprit, in excluding Mrs. Cul- 
prit's testimony as to the financial condition of her 
family, and also in excluding the note and judgment 
offered in evidence. How far this acted to the prej- 
udice of the accused it is your province to say. As 
to the second point raised as ground for appeal, the 
chairman was clearly right in allowing the authen- 
ticated record of one Church court to be used in evi- 
dence in another. The case is now for you. You 
can grant the prayer of the appellant and reverse 
9 



130 THE ITINERANT'S GUIDE. 

and dismiss, or you can affirm, or you can grant a 
new trial." 

The pastor arose, and, after explaining that all in- 
justice was unintentional, moved that the case be 
remanded for a new trial. This was unanimously 
carried. The presiding elder then had the judgment 
of the court written out in proper manner (see Form 
20, Case C), and all the members of the Quarterly 
Conference signed it. 

The case was now just where it was at the start. 

Mr. Shepherd called his investigating committee 
together again, not to investigate the case again (for 
a higher power had said that there must he a new 
trial), but to present them the facts in the case and 
have a new indictment presented by them. They 
drop the third specification, and then leave the rest 
of the old bill unchanged. 

Mr. Shepherd now resummons his committee of 
trial — not the same one, however — issues new cita- 
tions to accused and witnesses, and about August 12 
is again ready to proceed. 

The trial is opened, and proceeds to the point 
where the accused is to plead, when Mr. Culprit 
arises and states : " Dear brethren, before my con- 
version I was very profane, but afterwards, by hard 
work, broke myself of the evil habit. I am now sat- 
isfied that during my excitement in controversy with 
Mr. Street I must have unconsciously dropped into 
my old habit. Therefore I am guilty in the letter, 
but not guilty in the spirit. I hope the Chair will al- 
low evidence in mitigation of my offense." This was 
done. The trial proceeded in due form, and the com- 
mittee found him guilty, but with mitigating circum- 



SOME NEW OASES. 131 

stances that greatly modified the offense, and sen- 
tenced him to suspension from the Church for one 
month. The pastor, having called in the accused, 
pronounced the sentence, and called on a good broth- 
er mighty in prayer to pray with them. This he did 
with an unction that melted all into tears. The ben- 
ediction was pronounced, and they adjourned. 



CHAPTER VI, 

Miscellaneous Forms. 

Form 27. 

Report on Epworth League, Sunday School, and 
Instruction of Children. 

To the Presiding Elder and Members op the 

Quarterly Conference op Eoxana Circuit. 

Dear Brethren: We have only one Epworth 
League — at Roxana — with thirty members, and do- 
ing good work. It is well officered. We have tried 
to organize at other points, but have not yet suc- 
ceeded. 

We have three Sunday schools. 

The one at Oak Grgve is large. The students are 
interested in the study of God's word. However, 
there is a felt need of wide-awake and pious teach- 
ers. The superintendent is laboring earnestly to 
build up the school in all points. 

The school at Roxana is in a healthy state. It is 
not large, but well organized and doing good work. 
During the present quarter a missionary society has 
been organized in this school. The students are 
greatly interested in this work. The teachers are 
prompt and consecrated to their work. 

The school at Brooksville is languishing. The 
field is white to harvest, but willing laborers have 
not been secured. We hope yet to report a good 
school at this point. 
(132) 



MISCELLANEOUS FORMS. 133 

The pastor visits the people regularly, and his vis- 
its always include the children. 

The baptized children are generally instructed in 
the nature and scope of the vows assumed by their 
parents in their baptism. 

Special services are held at each preaching point 
for the children. 

The children are constantly urged to come to 
church. Respectfully, R. C. Shepherd, P. G. 

Roxana, July 1, 1882. 

Form 28. 

Report of the Preacher in Charge on the General State 
of the Church. 

To the Presiding Elder, etc. 

Dear Brethren: The state of this charge for the 
past quarter has been quite satisfactory. We have 
had some revivals, and all the churches on the work 
are giving evidences of spiritual life. We have re- 
ceived the following for this quarter by certificate 
[here give the names]; in all, 6; on profession of 
faith [names] ; in all, 12. Total number received, 
18. I have baptized the following adults [names] ; 
infants [names]. The following have been removed 
by certificate [names]; in all, 4; by death [name], 
1; by order of Church Conference [names], 2; volun- 
tary withdrawal [name], 1; by expulsion [name], 
1. Total removed, 9. Net gain for quarter, 9. 
Respectfully, etc., R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Roxana, July 1, 1882, 



134 



THE ITINERANT^ GUIDE. 



Form 29. 

Report of Preacher in Charge to a Church Conference. 

To the Church Conference of — — Charge for 
July, 1883. 

Dear Brethren: I have been able by divine help 
to fill all of my regular appointments for preaching 
since my last report to you, and have been gratified 
by good and attentive congregations. I was neces- 
sarily absent from one prayer meeting, which Broth- 
er A. Brown kindly led. I have made forty-one pas- 
toral visits, attended two funerals, and married 
three couples. 

I see many signs of spiritual life, but we stand in 
need of a gracious revival. I am praying and work- 
ing for it. I trust you are all doing the same. 

R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

Eoxana, Miss., July 23, 1883. 



Form 30. 

Subscription for a Church Building. 

We, the undersigned, agree to pay the sums oppo- 
site our names for the purpose of building a house 
of worship in Eoxana, Miss., for the use and benefit 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to be 
deeded to the same in fee simple: 



Name. 



Amount. 



Name. 



Amount. 



MISCELLANEOUS FORMS. 



135 



Form 31. 

Subscription for Building a Parsonage. 

We, the undersigned, agree to pay the sums oppo- 
site our names for the purpose of buying a lot in Rox- 
ana, Miss., to be deeded in fee simple to the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, South, and of building 
thereon a house of residence for the use and benefit 
of the preacher of said Church who may be in charge 
of this work as pastor: 



Name. 



Amount. 



Name. 



Amount. 



Form 32, 

Report of the Board of Trustees to the Fourth Quar- 
terly Conference. 

To the Presiding Elder and Members op the 
Quarterly Conference of Roxana Circuit. 

Dear Brethren: We have three houses of worship 
on this circuit. Those at Brookston and Roxana 
are in good repair, these having had quite an 
amount, as will be seen, spent on them this year. 
The building at Wesley Chapel needs a new roof and 
repainting. 
The value of this property is as follows: 

Brookston $1,750 00 

Roxana 2,000 00 

Wesley Chapel 950 00 

Total |4,700 00 



136 the itinerant's guide. 

We have a good parsonage at Roxana, worth 
|1,000. 

We have spent in the repair of our church and 
parsonage $1,250, $700 of which was on the church 
at Roxana, $200 on the parsonage, $50 on the church 
at Wesley Ohapel, $300 on the church at Brookston. 

We own also a cemetery at County Line, and have 
bought a lot there for a church. The deed to the lat- 
ter is at present unsatisfactory, but the vendor 
promises to give a new and correct one. The value 
of this property we estimate as follows: 

Cemetery $ 50 00 

Lot 125 00 

Total . . ..$175 00 

Respectfully, 

Tom Brown, President of Board. 

Sam Jones, Secretary. 

Roxana, Oct. 10, 1883. 

The two next forms are taken from the Discipline, 

Chapter XIV.: 

Form 33. 

Recommendation for an Exhorter's License from a 

Church Conference, 
To the Presiding Elder and Members of the 
Quarterly Conference of Roxana Circuit. 

Bear Brethren: Brother A. B., a member of our 
Church, and well known to us as an earnest and 
faithful Christian, is hereby recommended to you as 
a suitable person to be licensed to exhort. 

This Sept. 12, 1895. R. C. Shepherd, P. C. 

A. G. Good, 

Sec. Ch. Con., County Line Church. 



MISCELLANEOUS FORMS. 137 

Form 34. 

Recommendation for License to Preach by Quarterly 
Conference. 

To the President and Members op the District 

Conference op District, to be Held at , 

Date . 

Dear Brethren: Brother A. B., a member of our 

Church on charge, and well known to us as an 

earnest and faithful Christian, is hereby recom- 
mended to you as a suitable person to be licensed to 
preach the gospel. A. Jones, P. E. 

This Sept. 15, 1896. 

B. H. Brown, Sec. Quar. Con. 

Form 35. 
Form of a Devise by Will. 

In the name of God — Amen. 

I [A. B.], being of sound m5nd and memory, do 
constitute this my last will and testament: 

Item 1. I give and devise the following [here 

describe the property] to , "the Board 

of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South/' and to their successors in office, and its 
use to be controlled by said trustees for the use 
and benefit of [here state the benevolent object 
or purpose to which you wish the trustees to ap- 
ply your property], to be thus applied by said trus- 
tees, under the direction of the General Confer- 
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
making only such disposition of said property as the 
General Conference shall judge best calculated to 
promote the objects of this bequest, as herein stated. 

I hereby appoint [insert the name or names] the 



138 THE itineeant's guide. 

executors of this my last will and testament. In 
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 

seal this day of , 18 — , in the presence 

of . 

Witnesses, [seal.] 

[Let there be three.] 

Form 36. 
Form of a Deed of Gift. 

State of , 

Oounty. 

Know all men by these presents, that I [write 
name], for and in consideration of the love I bear 
for the cause of Christ, and from an earnest desire 
to promote his heritage on earth, do give and grant, 

and by these presents convey, unto " the 

Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South," and to their successors in office, for the use 
and benefit of [state the particular object for which 
the gift is made], to be applied by said trustees to the 
object herein stated, under the direction of the Gen- 
eral Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South; and the said trustees are to have and to hold 
the property aforesaid, for 1he use aforesaid, free 
from the claim or claims of myself, my heirs, my 
executors or administrators, and from the claims 
of all others whatsoever. In witness whereof I 

have hereunto set my hand and seal this day 

of ? is — 9 in the presence of — — . 

Witnesses. [seal.] 

[Let three sign.] 



CHAPTER VII. 

Forms of Official Papers. 

BISHOP H. N. McTYEIRE has kindly consented 
to allow me to republish his Chapter X. of the 
Manual of the Discipline in connection with my 
book. This courtesy enables me to present in one 
small book all the forms that a Methodist preacher 
is likely to need. Returning my thanks to our be- 
loved senior bishop for his kindness, and also to the 
authorities of our Publishing House, which holds 
the copyright of the Manual, I give below, with such 
changes as are necessary to adapt the forms to our 
present law, the contents of Chapter X. of that inval- 
uable book: 

Chapter X. — McTyeire's Manual. 

FORMS OF OFFICIAL PAPERS. 

The following forms are prepared for those who 
may find it convenient to use them : 

No. I. — Certificate of a Member. 

The bearer hereof, A B , has been an 

acceptable member of the Methodist Episcopal 

Church, South, in C Station \ circuit or mission], 

G Conference. J. E. E , 

Preacher in Charge. 
Columbus, Ga., Jan. 2, 187 — . 

No. II. — Certificate of an Exhorter or Local Preacher. 

The bearer hereof, N M , has been an au- 

(139) 



140 THE ITINERANT^ GUIDE. 

thorized exhorter [or local preacher or deacon or 
elder] of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
in E Station [circuit or mission], G Dis- 
trict, T Conference. E. A , P. E.j 

or L. M. L , P. C. 

Galveston, Texas, Jan. 3, 187—. 

No. III. — Exhorter } s License. 

The bearer hereof, J. T , having been duly rec- 
ommended, and having been examined by the Quar- 
terly Conference of Circuit [station or mis- 
sion] , of District, of Annual Conference of 

the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is hereby 
authorized to exhort, according to the ruJes and reg- 
ulations of said Church. 

Signed, in behalf of said Quarterly Conference, 

J. W. H , P. E. 

Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 1, 187—. 

No. IV.— Local Preacher's License. 

The bearer hereof, J. H , having been duly rec- 

ommended ; and having been examined, as the Disci- 
pline directs, by the District Conference of — — 

District, of Annual Conference of the Methodist 

Episcopal Church, South, is hereby authorized to 
preach the gospel, according to the rules and regula- 
tions of said Church. 

Signed, in behalf of the Quarterly Conference, 

J. B— , P. E. 

T. P— — , Sec. 

St. Louis, Mo., June 1, 187—. 

The license, upon inquiry into the gifts, grace, and 



FORMS OF OFFICIAL PAPERS. 141 

usefulness of the bearer, may be annually renewed. 
Upon the renewal, a new paper may be issued or the 
old one indorsed after this manner : " Renewed, by 
order of the District Conference, Dec. 2, 187 — . 
, P. E." 

The Discipline requires that all votes to license 
preachers shall be taken by ballot. 

Whenever any elder, deacon, or licentiate shall re- 
move from one circuit or station to another, he shall 
procure from the presiding elder of the district, or 
from the preacher having charge, a certificate of his 
official standing in the Church at the time of his re- 
moval, without which he shall not be received as a 
local preacher in other places. (Discipline.) 

No. Y. — Recommendation for Deacon's Orders. 

To the Bishop and Members of the Annual Conference 

of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to be held at 
, Dec. 8, 18—. 

Dear Fathers and Brethren: J. W. B , having 

been for years consecutively a local preacher^ 

and having been duly examined by the District Con- 
ference of District, of Annual Conference 

of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is hereby 
recommended as a suitable person to be ordained 
deacon. 

Signed, in behalf of said Quarterly Conference, 

J.C..K ,P. E. 

W. H. F , Sec. 

New Orleans, La., Oct. 4, 187 — . 

The Discipline requires that all votes to recom- 
mend preachers for deacons' orders shall be taken 
by ballot, 



142 THE itinerant's guide. 

" To recommend suitable candidates to the An- 
nual Conference for deacons' or elders' orders in the 
local connection." Nor shall any one be recommend- 
ed " for ordination without first being examined in 
the Quarterly Conference on the subject of doctrines 
and discipline, and giving satisfactory evidence of 
his knowledge of the ordinary branches of an Eng- 
lish education." (Duties of Quarterly Conferences.) 

No. VI. — Recommendation for Elder's Orders. 

To the Bishop and Members of the Annual Conference 

of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to be held at 
, Dec. 8, 187—. 

Dear Fathers and Brethren: H. P. L , having 

been a local preacher years consecutively from 

the time he was ordained deacon, and having been 

duly examined by the District Conference of 

District, of Annual Conference of the Methodist 

Episcopal Church, South, is hereby recommended as 
a suitable person, and qualified by talents and use- 
fulness and his knowledge of doctrine and discipline, 
to be ordained elder. 

Signed, in behalf of said Quarterly Conference, 

H. B. C , P. E. 

J. W. H , Sec. 

Richmond, Va., Nov. 2, 187 — . 

To the above should be appended a certificate to 
the following effect : 

" This certifies that I believe in the doctrine and 
discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 

"(Signed) H. P. L . 

" Richmond, Va., Nov. 2, 187— ." 



FORMS OF OFFICIAL PAPERS. 143 

The Discipline directs that the local deacon shall, 
if he cannot attend, send to the Annual Conference, 
along with his recommendation, " a note certifying 
his belief in the doctrine and discipline of our 
Church, the whole being examined by the Annual 
Conference/' It is recommended, for obvious rea- 
sons, that in all cases his signature be appended to 
a note like the above, whether he expects to attend 
or not. 

No. VII. — Recommendation for Admission on Trial 
into the Traveling Connection. 

To the Bishop and Members of the Annual Conference 

of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to be held at 
, Nov. 25, 187—. 

Dear Fathers and Brethren: W. H. C -, having 

been examined by the District Conference of 

District, of Annual Conference of the Methodist 

Episcopal Church, South, according to the rules and 
regulations of the same, is hereby recommended as a 
suitable person for admission on trial into the trav- 
eling connection. 

Signed, in behalf of said Quarterly Conference, 

O. R. B , P. E. 

A. J. N , Sec. 

Montgomery, Ala., Oct. 6, 187—. 

The Discipline requires that all votes to recom- 
mend preachers for admission into the traveling con- 
nection shall be taken by ballot. 

Ques. 1. How is a preacher to be received? 

Ans. By the Conference. 

Thus stood the rule in 1789. In 1792 it was added: 



144 THE itinerant's guide. 

" But no one shall be received unless he first pro- 
cure a recommendation from the Quarterly Confer- 
ence of his circuit." 

In 1866 a course of study was prescribed, and an 
approved examination upon it made an additional 
condition of reception : 

" No one shall be received on trial unless he first 
procure a recommendation from the Quarterly Con- 
ference of his circuit, station, or mission; nor shall a 
vote be taken upon the admission of any candidate 
who shall not have passed an approved examination 
upon the course of study prescribed by the bishops 
before a committee appointed by the Conference for 
the purpose." (Discipline.) 

[In 1894 the whole question of licensing preachers 
and of recommending them to the Annual Confer- 
ence for admission or ordination was taken by the 
General Conference from the Quarterly Conference 
and given to the District Conference. — Editor.] 

No. VIII. — Recommendation for Recognition of Orders. 

To the Bishop and Members of the Annual Conference 

of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to be held at 
, Dec. 8, 187—. 

Dear Fathers and Brethren: J. W. S , having 

been received into the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South, from the Church, and having given sat- 
isfaction to the District Conference of District, 

of Annual Conference, of his ordination as a 

deacon, according to the forms of the Church, 

and having been duly examined as to his qualifica- 
tions and his agreement with the doctrine and dis- 
cipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is 



FORMS OF OFFICIAL PAPEES. 145 

judged a suitable person to preach the gospel and to 
exercise the functions of a deacon; and he is hereby 
recommended for the recognition of his orders as 
such. 0. W. K , P. E. 

T. R. D , Sec. 

Augusta, Ga., Oct. 5, 187 — . 

The above form is applicable to one who desires to 
unite with our Church as a local minister in orders. 
If the same person would be admitted into the trav- 
eling connection, he must also be furnished with a 
recommendation of the District Conference after the 
manner of No. 7. 

Itinerant ministers, in an accredited branch of the 
Methodist Church, may be received at once upon 
taking our ordination vows and giving satisfaction 
to an Annual Conference of their being in orders 
and of their agreement with us in doctrine, disci- 
pline, government, and usages; provided, the Con- 
ference is also satisfied with their gifts, grace, and 
usefulness. 

No. IX. — Restoration of Credentials. 

(APPLICATION BY A QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.) 

To the Bishop and Members of the Annual Conference 

of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch, South, to be held at 
, Dec. 8, 187—. 

Dear Fathers and Brethren: M. N , formerly a 

member of the — — Annual [or Quarterly] Confer- 
ence, and deprived of his credentials by the same, 
having given satisfaction to the District Conference 

f District, of Annual Conference of the 

Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of his amend- 
10 



146 the itinerant's guide. 

ment, and having resided within the bounds of said 
Quarterly Conference for years, and been ad- 
mitted as a licentiate since , is hereby recom- 
mended to the Annual Conference for the resto- 
ration of his credentials, believing that the welfare 
of the Church would be promoted thereby. 

Signed, in behalf of said Quarterly Conference, 

A. L. G , P. E. 

M. T , Sec. 

Columbia, Tenn., Oct. 10, 187—. 

The credentials of a deprived traveling preacher 
are filed with the Annual Conference of which he 
was a member. "And should he at any time give 
satisfactory evidence to said Conference of his 
amendment, and procure a certificate of the Quar- 
terly Conference of the circuit or station where he 
resides or of an Annual Conference which may have 
admitted him on trial, recommending to the Annual 
Conference of which he was a member formerly the 
restoration of his credentials, the said Conference 
may restore them." The restoration of the creden- 
tials of a local preacher is likewise provided for. 
(See Discipline.) 

No. X. — Restoration of Credentials. 

(application by an annual conference.) 
To the Bishop and Members of the Annual Conference 

— -, Dec. 8, 187—. 

Dear Fathers and Brethren: O. P— — , formerly a 
member of B Annual [or Quarterly] Confer- 
ence, and deprived of his credentials by the same, 



FOBMS OF OFFICIAL PAPERS. 147 

since by said Conference, is hereby recommend- 
ed to B Annual Conference for the restoration 

having given satisfaction to M Annual Confer- 
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of 
his amendment, and having been admitted on trial 
of his credentials, believing that the welfare of the 
Church will be promoted thereby. 

Signed, in behalf of M Annual Conference, 

, President. 

, Secretary. 

Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 10, 187 — . 

No. XI. — Certificate of Location. 

The Annual Conference of the Methodist 

Episcopal Church, South, of which has been a 

member, consents that he shall cease to travel from 
this date. He is, therefore, authorized to exercise 

his ministry as a local in this Church, according 

to the rules and regulations of the same. 

President. 

, Secretary. 

Louisville, Ky., Dec. 20, 187—. 

No. XII. — Report of Recording Steward. 

To the Joint Board of Finance of the Annual Confer- 
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to be 
held at , Dec. 8, 1S7— . 

Dear Brethren: The undersigned, recording stew- 
ard, of Circuit [station or mission], of 

District, of Annual Conference, submits the fol- 
lowing report of the acts of the board of stewards of 



148 the itinebant's guide. 

said circuit [station or mission], for the year ending 
Dec. 8, 187—: 

Estimated for preacher in charge $ 1,000 00 

Paid 900 00 

Estimated, for presiding elder 100 00 

Paid 90 00 

Estimated for bishops 10 00 

Paid 8 00 

Estimated for Conference collection 110 00 

Paid 150 00 

G. W. W , E. S. 

Salem, S. 0., Nov. 20, 187—. 



MAN, MONEY, AND THE BIBLE; 

OR, 

BIBLICAL ECONOMICS. 

BY REV. JOHN R. ALLEN, D.D. 

Here is wliat is said of this boolz: 

" He quotes largely from Mr. Wesley in support of his 
views, and combats vigorously the long line of philosoph- 
ical social economists who divorce religious principles and 
teaching from the conduct of government or social life." — 
New York Advocate. 

" This is a truly valuable treatise upon the economical 
system of the Bible. . . . This is the fairest discussion 
of these questions we have seen. . . . We have seen no 
work dealing with this subject superior to this one, and be- 
cause of its sound reasoning and earnest, Christian spirit 
we give it our hearty indorsement." — Messiah's Herald, Bos- 
ton. 

" It is the writing of a thoughtful man, and is suggestive 
and profitable reading." — Sunday School Magazine. 

" This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book. 
. . . His book is an application of Bible principles to the 
present discussions and contests between labor and capi- 
tal." — "Gilderoy" in New Orleans Advocate. 

" I got me a sermon out of Chapter VI. ... I think 
the book will do good." — "Gilderoy" in Private Letter. 

" We have read with interest, pleasure, and profit Dr. 
John E. Allen's book. . . . This book will help church 
finances if circulated among our people. It will strengthen 
the conscience on the responsibility of the stewardship of 
the money-holders and increase the spirit of liberality." — 
Texas Advocate. 

" It is intensely interesting, being right along the line of 
the question, capital and labor, that is just now agitating 
to an alarming degree the minds of our American people." 
— Honey Grove Signal. 

" This is an able production, and every preacher and 
steward in the Church ought to have a copy of it. If gener- 
ally circulated and heeded, it would go a long way toward 
the solution of the financial problems that are agitating the 
public mind of our day." — W. W. Homer, in Texas Advocate. 

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